Maharashtra Government Implements Strategic IAS Reshuffle, Appoints New Principal Secretary for Tourism
In a significant administrative overhaul, the Maharashtra government has reassigned seven senior IAS officers to pivotal roles across various departments. This extensive realignment, announced late Monday, is designed to enhance administrative effectiveness and streamline operations in key sectors such as tourism, IT, public health, and urban development.
Key Appointments and Role Changes
The reshuffle features several high-level appointments, placing experienced officers in new strategic positions:
Sanjay Khandare (IAS 1996) has been moved from his role as Principal Secretary for Water Supply and Sanitation to become the new Principal Secretary for the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department.
Parrag Jaiin Nainutia (IAS 1996) will transition from his position as Principal Secretary of Information Technology to succeed Mr. Khandare as Principal Secretary of the Water Supply and Sanitation Department.
Kunal Kumar (IAS 1999) has been named the Managing Director of the Shivshahi Punarvasan Project in Mumbai, a major state-led urban redevelopment effort.
Additional Strategic Postings
The reassignments extend to other critical departments to bolster governance:
Virendra Singh (IAS 2006) is now the Secretary for Information Technology within the General Administration Department.
E. Ravendiran (IAS 2008) has been appointed as Secretary (2) in the Public Health Department, where he will be responsible for driving policy execution and administrative improvements.
M. J. Pradeep Chandran (IAS 2012) will assume the role of Project Director for the Balasaheb Thackeray Agribusiness and Rural Transformation (SMART) Project in Pune, a flagship program dedicated to advancing agribusiness and fostering rural innovation.
New Leadership for Pune’s Civic Body
In a key urban governance appointment, Pavneet Kaur (IAS 2014) has been selected as the new Additional Municipal Commissioner for the Pune Municipal Corporation. She moves from her current post as Deputy Director General at YASHADA, Pune, and will now focus on managing the city’s infrastructure and civic administration.
A Move to Strengthen Governance
This widespread reassignment is widely seen as a strategic maneuver by the state government to fortify its administrative framework. By deploying seasoned officers to these crucial positions, the government aims to improve coordination between departments, accelerate the implementation of development projects, and ensure the continued progress of its initiatives in digital governance, public health, and urban infrastructure.
