The Kerala government has implemented a significant reshuffle among its Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, following the recent appointment of Dr. A Jayathilak as the state’s new Chief Secretary. As part of the reshuffle, KR Jyothilal, a senior 1993 batch IAS officer, has been named the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Finance Department. He has also been entrusted with several key responsibilities, including overseeing the Taxation, Public Procurement Advisory, Planning and Economic Affairs (RKI), and serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Rebuild Kerala Initiative.
Other notable appointments include Bishwanath Sinha, currently serving as ACS of the Home and Vigilance Department, who now also holds additional charge of the Forest and Wildlife Department. Mir Mohammed Ali has been appointed Chairman of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB). Puneet Kumar has been shifted from Personnel and Administrative Reforms to the Local Government Department, along with additional responsibilities in the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes Development, Backward Classes Development, and Electricity Departments.
Dr Rajan Khobragade, Health Department ACS, now also handles the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, including its Official Language Division. K Biju, Secretary of the Public Works Department, will now manage General Administration and Transport-related departments, while Dr A Kaushikan has received additional responsibilities involving Military Welfare and temple administration.
The reshuffle also includes changes at the Water Authority and the Social Justice Department. Jeevan Babu has received coastal protection project duties under Resilient Kerala and the ADB’s PforR program. Dr Adila Abdullah now focuses on the Local Government Department, stepping away from her previous role in Women and Child Development.
Additionally, Keshavendra Kumar returns as Secretary of Finance (Expenditure), and Dr S Chitra has been posted as Additional Secretary in the Local Government Department with multiple added roles in waste management and administration.
