Rajasthan state Government has transferred 26 IAS officers along with 53 RAS officers across the state.
As Rajasthan gears up for the upcoming urban local body elections, the Bhajan Lal Sharma government has rolled out one of its biggest administrative reshuffles in recent months. In a late-night order issued by the Department of Personnel, the state transferred 26 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and 53 Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officers, signaling a large-scale reorganization of key administrative positions across districts and government departments.
The reshuffle has arrived at a crucial moment. The Model Code of Conduct for the municipal elections is expected to come into force soon, leaving the government with a narrow window to implement administrative changes. Alongside senior-level transfers, the government has also deployed 14 trainee IAS officers as Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) in district election offices, a move aimed at strengthening election preparedness across Rajasthan.
The transfer exercise touches nearly every level of governance, from district administrations and development authorities to municipal corporations, universities, planning departments, and field postings. Several officers who had been awaiting fresh assignments have also received new responsibilities.
Transfers Timed Ahead of Election Code
The latest administrative overhaul is closely linked to preparations for the civic elections. The State Election Commission had instructed the government to shift officers who had completed three years or more at the same place of posting, a standard practice intended to maintain neutrality and ensure fair election management.
With election machinery expected to become fully operational in the coming days, the government has moved quickly to reposition officers in districts, urban development bodies, and departments that play an important role during local elections. The Department of Personnel issued the orders late Monday night, setting off a wide-ranging administrative realignment that affects governance across multiple sectors.
14 Trainee IAS Officers Deployed as Election OSDs
One of the standout features of the reshuffle is the posting of 14 trainee IAS officers as Officers on Special Duty in the offices of District Election Officers. Their role will be to assist district administrations with election-related planning, coordination, and implementation.
The trainee officers have been assigned to districts across the state, ensuring administrative support reaches both major urban centers and strategically important districts.
These officers are expected to work alongside District Election Officers in coordinating logistics, monitoring administrative processes, and supporting preparations before polling begins.
Officers Awaiting Posting Receive Fresh Responsibilities
The transfer order has also cleared the status of several IAS officers who had been under Awaiting Posting Orders (APO), giving them important assignments across departments and district administrations.
Lalit Goyal has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Public Works Department, while Abhishek Jain has taken charge as Chief Executive Officer of Sri Ganganagar Zila Parishad. Pritam Kumar has been posted as CEO of Udaipur Zila Parishad, and Saksham Goyal has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Public Health Engineering Department.
Another notable appointment is that of Bhaisare Shubham Ashok, who will now serve as CEO of Jaipur Zila Parishad and MADA, while Pratibha Dahiya has been entrusted with the responsibility of CEO of Karauli Zila Parishad and MADA. These appointments place experienced officers in positions that directly oversee district-level governance and development programmes.
Major Changes Across Development Authorities
Urban development authorities have also witnessed significant leadership changes as part of the reshuffle. The government has changed the commissioners heading both the Bikaner Development Authority and the Ajmer Development Authority, reflecting a broader effort to reorganize urban administration ahead of elections.
Dhaigude Snehal Nana, who had been serving as Secretary of the Alwar Urban Improvement Trust (UIT), has now been appointed Commissioner of the Bikaner Development Authority.
Meanwhile, Nitya K., previously associated with the Ajmer Development Authority, has been shifted to the Energy Department as Joint Secretary. Rashmi Rani has been appointed as the new Commissioner of the Ajmer Development Authority. These changes place fresh leadership at the helm of important urban planning institutions responsible for infrastructure, land management, and city development.
Key Departmental Appointments Across Jaipur
Several officers have also been assigned strategic departmental responsibilities at the state headquarters in Jaipur. Utsah Chaudhary has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Disaster Management Department, while Shilpa Singh will serve as Joint Secretary in the Planning Department.
These departments play a critical role in policy implementation, emergency preparedness, and development planning, making these appointments significant beyond the election context.
Bhiwadi and Neemrana Development Bodies Get New Leadership
Industrial and investment regions have not been left untouched by the reshuffle. Girdhar has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer for the Bhiwadi-related development authority assignment.
He has also been entrusted with additional responsibility as CEO of the Neemrana Investment Region Regional Development Authority in Khairthal-Tijara. The dual assignment places him in charge of administrative oversight in two important industrial corridors that continue to attract investment and urban expansion.
Fresh Field Postings for IAS Officers
The reshuffle extends well beyond headquarters postings, with several officers receiving important field assignments across Rajasthan. Pratibha Verma has been appointed Director of the Medical IEC Department in Jaipur, while Gaurav Budhania will now serve as Commissioner of the Ajmer Municipal Corporation.
Avhad Nivrutti Somnath has been given charge as Additional CEO of the Rajasthan Institute for Transportation and Innovation, and Salunkhe Gaurav Ravindra has been posted as Secretary of the Urban Improvement Trust, Bhilwara.
Other notable appointments include:
-
Yash Chaudhary – CEO, MADA, Alwar
-
Yatharth Shekhar – CEO, MADA, Jaisalmer
-
Dr. Anshu Priya – Registrar, Sardar Patel Police University, Jodhpur
-
Shraddha Gome – CEO, MADA, Alwar
-
Mohit Kasnia – CEO, MADA, Sawai Madhopur
-
Sonika Kumari – Additional Commissioner, Commercial Taxes Department, Jaipur
-
Shreshtha Shree – CEO, MADA, Dholpur
-
Charu – CEO, MADA, Bundi
These appointments place officers in positions directly linked to urban development, taxation, higher education, and regional planning.
SDM-Level Changes Strengthen Field Administration
Field administration has also seen notable adjustments. Rahul Srivastava has been posted as Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Mount Abu, and he will simultaneously hold additional charge as Secretary of the Urban Improvement Trust, Mount Abu.
Sonu Kumari has been appointed SDM, Jhalawar, strengthening district-level administrative leadership in another important region.
Such postings are considered especially significant during election periods because SDMs play a key role in law and order coordination, election management, and implementation of administrative directives.
53 RAS Officers Also Shifted
The government did not limit the reshuffle to IAS officers alone. A parallel order transferred 53 Rajasthan Administrative Service officers, making it one of the most extensive state-level bureaucratic exercises before the civic polls.
The RAS transfer list includes of 8 Additional District Collectors (ADCs), 36 Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), Several officers assigned to educational institutions and administrative departments
Among the prominent appointments, Kalu Ram, who had earlier been awaiting posting orders, has been appointed Registrar of Rajasthan University, Jaipur. Another significant change sees Kailash Chand Sharma taking charge as Secretary of the Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan, Ajmer, placing him in a key position within the state’s education administration.
Administrative Reset Before Elections
The timing and scale of the reshuffle underline the government’s effort to streamline administrative functioning before Rajasthan enters the election phase for urban local bodies.
By repositioning senior IAS officers, strengthening district election offices with trainee officers, appointing CEOs for development authorities, and reshuffling dozens of RAS officers, the government has attempted to ensure that key administrative positions are aligned with election preparedness and governance priorities.
The coming weeks will test how these newly assigned officers settle into their responsibilities as Rajasthan prepares for another significant electoral exercise across its urban local bodies.
