Rajasthan Poised for Major Bureaucratic Overhaul: Chief Secretary V. Srinivas and CM Bhajanlal Sharma Signal Imminent Transfers
Rajasthan’s administrative landscape is bracing for a sweeping reshuffle following a high-level meeting between newly appointed Chief Secretary V. Srinivas and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. The meeting, held yesterday, has triggered intense speculation within bureaucratic circles that long-pending transfers of senior IAS officers are finally set to move forward.
New Chief Secretary Takes Charge Amid Rising Expectations
Mr. Srinivas, a 1989-batch IAS officer, formally assumed office as Chief Secretary on 17 November. Since his appointment, expectations have mounted for a comprehensive restructuring of the state’s administrative machinery, particularly as several critical positions remain uncertain. His arrival has renewed momentum for a long-delayed reshuffle that insiders believe is essential to restore efficiency and balance across departments.
Five Months Without Senior-Level Transfers
On 22 June, the state government issued a transfer list involving 62 IAS officers, signaling the beginning of a significant reshuffle. However, senior-level postings—including those of Additional Chief Secretaries (ACS), Principal Secretaries, and Secretaries—have remained unresolved for nearly five months. This prolonged delay has created operational bottlenecks, leaving multiple departments struggling with leadership gaps and overlapping responsibilities.
Over 100 Senior Officials Burdened With Additional Charge
The administrative system has been under strain for the past ten months, with more than 100 senior officers across services forced to manage additional portfolios:
51 IAS officers
5 IPS officers
5 IFS officers
38 RAS officers
Many of these officials are simultaneously handling three to four departments, a situation that has diluted efficiency, slowed decision-making, and hampered the timely delivery of public services.
Priority: Streamlining Responsibilities and Accelerating Governance
Sources close to the Chief Secretary’s Office (CSO) and the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) suggest that eliminating additional charges is now a top priority. Streamlining responsibilities is expected to improve coordination between the two offices, expedite the clearance of pending files, and enhance the overall responsiveness of governance.
Fresh IAS Transfer List Anticipated
Senior officials indicate that a new IAS transfer list is likely to be released within a week. This list is expected to include senior officers whose postings have been under review for several months.
Earlier this year, a detailed transfer list involving 48 IAS officers had been prepared and was scheduled for release in July. However, internal disagreements and factional pressures stalled its implementation. Only junior-level postings were cleared, leaving senior reshuffles unresolved and further intensifying the need for decisive action.
Bureaucracy on Alert as CS Builds His Core Team
With Chief Secretary Srinivas now actively reviewing the administrative structure, insiders believe that a comprehensive reshuffle is inevitable. Departments currently led by senior IAS officers are expected to undergo major changes as he works closely with Chief Minister Sharma to form a new core team.
This impending overhaul is being viewed as a critical step toward restoring balance, efficiency, and accountability in Rajasthan’s governance framework.
The coming weeks are likely to redefine Rajasthan’s administrative setup, as the new Chief Secretary and Chief Minister align their vision to deliver stronger governance and improved public service delivery.
