S. Siddharth, a 1991-batch IAS officer currently serving as the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, has been given the additional responsibility of ACS, Education Department.
In a significant administrative reshuffle, the state government has announced the transfer of 11 IAS officers, marking a pivotal shift in key departments. Notably, senior bureaucrat K K Pathak, a 1990-batch IAS officer renowned for his pioneering reforms in the education sector, has been reassigned, generating both speculation and mixed reactions.
According to an official notification released by the General Administration Department, K K Pathak, who is currently on leave, has been appointed as the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Revenue and Land Reforms Department.
Mr. Pathak, known for leading significant reforms in the education sector, will also continue to hold the additional charge of Director-General at the Bihar Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development.
In a move that has garnered attention, S Siddharth, a 1991-batch IAS officer currently serving as the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, has been assigned the additional responsibility of ACS, Education Department, replacing Pathak until further notice.
Other changes include the transfer of Deepak Kumar Singh, a 1992-batch IAS officer, from his role as ACS in the Revenue and Land Reforms Department to a similar position in the Rural Works Department. Arvind Kumar Chaudhary, a 1995-batch IAS officer, has been moved from the Finance Department to the Home Department, where he will take on the crucial role of Principal Secretary.
In a cascading effect, Lokesh Kumar Singh, a 2003-batch IAS officer previously overseeing the Science, Technology, and Technical Education Department, has been reassigned to the Finance Department as Secretary. Meanwhile, Pankaj Kumar Pal, a 2002-batch IAS officer, will move from his role in the Rural Works Department to serve as Secretary in the Rural Development Department.
The reshuffle aims to streamline administrative efficiency, but it has sparked debates regarding its impact on ongoing initiatives, particularly in the education sector where Pathak’s reforms have received both acclaim and criticism. As the state government navigates these changes, the focus remains on maintaining momentum in critical sectors while adapting to evolving priorities and challenges.
