Uttar Pradesh Bureaucracy Faces Major Reshuffle as Two Senior IAS Officers Retire
Lucknow, [Date] – Uttar Pradesh’s administrative landscape is set for a significant transformation with the retirement of two senior IAS officers from the 1987 batch today. Monica S. Garg, Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC), and Arun Singhal, Director General of the National Archives of India, are stepping down, creating vacancies for key bureaucratic positions.
Race for Top Posts Intensifies
The spotlight is now on potential successors for these crucial roles, particularly the APC position. Leading the race is S.P. Goyal (1989 batch), currently Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister. Goyal is widely seen as the frontrunner for the APC post and a strong candidate for Chief Secretary once the incumbent, Manoj Kumar Singh, retires in July 2025—unless granted an extension.
Why Goyal is a Strong Contender
* Seniority (1989 batch)
* Proximity to CM Yogi Adityanath
* Longer tenure (retires in January 2027)
However, speculation is rife about the possible return of Devesh Chaturvedi (1989 batch), currently Agriculture Secretary at the Centre. If Chaturvedi is repatriated to UP, he could emerge as a serious challenger for the Chief Secretary post, potentially reshaping the bureaucratic hierarchy.
Other Key Contenders
Himanshu Kumar (1990 batch) – Retires October 2025
Deepak Kumar (1990 batch) – Retires October 2026 (longer tenure gives him an edge)
Factors Influencing Appointments
While seniority plays a role, UP’s bureaucratic reshuffles often hinge on:
* Political alignment
* Administrative performance
* Internal power dynamics
The uncertainty over Manoj Kumar Singh’s extension and Chaturvedi’s possible return has made this succession battle one of the most closely watched in recent times.
Key Takeaways
Monica Garg & Arun Singhal’s retirement opens up top bureaucratic posts
S.P. Goyal is the frontrunner, but Devesh Chaturvedi could disrupt the race
1990-batch officers Himanshu Kumar & Deepak Kumar also in contention
Final decision depends on political and administrative factors
