Odisha Government Announces Major IAS Reshuffle on New Year
Senior Bureaucrats Get New Roles as State Implements Administrative Changes
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Thursday announced a series of appointments and additional charge allocations involving senior IAS officers, marking the New Year with a significant administrative reshuffle. The changes were notified by the General Administration & Public Grievance Department and are aimed at strengthening governance, coordination, and service delivery across departments.
The notification was issued by order of the Governor and signed by Debasis Singh, Additional Secretary to the Government.
Satyabrata Sahu Appointed Member, Board of Revenue
Senior IAS officer Satyabrata Sahu (1991 batch), who was serving as Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, with additional charge of Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department, has been appointed as Member, Board of Revenue, Odisha, Cuttack.
His appointment places an experienced officer at the helm of the revenue adjudication body, which plays a key role in land and revenue administration in the state.
Deoranjan Kumar Singh Takes Charge as Development Commissioner
Deoranjan Kumar Singh (1993 batch), Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, has been appointed as Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary and Secretary to Government, Planning & Convergence Department.
He will continue to hold the additional charge of the Revenue & Disaster Management Department. Singh also previously held multiple responsibilities, including Member, Board of Revenue, Special Relief Commissioner, Managing Director of the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), and Chairman of the Odisha Forest Development Corporation.
Hemant Sharma Retains Key Portfolios
Hemant Sharma (1995 batch), Additional Chief Secretary, Industries Department, will continue to hold the additional charge of the Home Department. He also retains additional responsibilities as Additional Chief Secretary, Information & Public Relations Department, and Chairman of IPICOL.
Sharma’s continued role in key economic and internal security departments underlines the government’s focus on industrial growth and administrative stability.
Principal Secretaries Continue in Dual Roles
Several senior officers have been allowed to continue holding dual responsibilities:
- Shubha Sarma (1999 batch), Principal Secretary, Women & Child Development Department, will continue as Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department.
- Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma (1999 batch), Principal Secretary, Excise Department, will continue as Principal Secretary, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department. He also retains additional charge as CMD of OPTCL and Chairman of OSBCL.
These continuations ensure continuity in departments handling critical social and infrastructure-related functions.
Rajesh Prabhakar Patil Continues Disaster Management Role
Rajesh Prabhakar Patil (2005 batch), Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Co-operation Department, will continue as Special Relief Commissioner, Odisha, and Managing Director of OSDMA.
He also holds additional charge as Chairman of the Odisha State Warehousing Corporation and Special Secretary in the Housing & Urban Development Department.
District Magistrate Transfers Announced
The reshuffle also included changes at the district administration level:
- Madhumita Rath (SCS-2015), Additional Secretary, School & Mass Education Department, has been appointed as District Magistrate, Nayagarh, under Section 14(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
- Akshay Sunil Agrawal (2019 batch), who was serving as Collector & District Magistrate, Nayagarh, has been appointed as Collector & District Magistrate, Gajapati, under the same Act.
The official notification has been forwarded to the Government of India and all concerned departments for information and necessary action. The administrative reshuffle is expected to improve coordination, efficiency, and governance outcomes as Odisha moves into the new year.
