16 IAS Officers Transferred in Uttar Pradesh, 6 DMs Replaced, Nikhil Tikaram Funde Appointed DM, Ayodhya

Lucknow: In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Yogi Adityanath led Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday transferred 16 IAS officers, including six District Magistrates (DMs), as part of a broader effort to streamline governance and enhance administrative efficiency across the state.

An official government spokesperson confirmed the transfers, noting that the reshuffle impacts several key departments and districts.

Key DM-Level Changes

Among the most notable changes is the transfer of Ayodhya DM and 2012 batch IAS officer Chandra Vijay Singh, who has been appointed as Special Secretary, Infrastructure and Industrial Development Department.

2014 batch IAS officer Nikhil Tikaram Funde, who was serving as DM Chandauli, will replace Mr Singh as the new DM of Ayodhya.

2016 batch IAS officer Chandra Mohan Garg, previously Municipal Commissioner, Prayagraj, has been appointed as the new DM of Chandauli. In turn, 2018 IAS officer Seelam Sai Teja, who served as Chief Development Officer (CDO), Jaunpur, will assume Garg’s previous role as Municipal Commissioner, Prayagraj.

2021 batch IAS officer Mrinali Avinash JoshiJoint Magistrate, Gorakhpur, has been shifted to Jaunpur as the new CDO.

Meanwhile, 2015 batch IAS officer Ms Nisha, DM of Amethi, has been moved to head the National AYUSH Mission as its Mission Director, and 2014 batch IAS officer Sanjay ChauhanMunicipal Commissioner, Saharanpur, will take charge as DM Amethi.

2017 batch IAS officer S. Giri, previously Special Secretary in the Higher Education Department, has been posted as the new Municipal Commissioner of Saharanpur, replacing Chauhan.

2012 batch IAS officer Mahendra Verma, earlier the Mission Director of the National AYUSH Mission, has now been appointed Secretary of Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UPRERA).

2014 batch IAS officer and Etawah DM, Mr Avanish Kumar Rai has been transferred to Badaun in the same capacity. While, 2013 batch promotee IAS officer Shubhrant Kumar Shukla, DM, Kannauj, has been posted as DM Etawah, and Ashutosh Mohan Agnihotri, a promotee IAS officer of 2016 batch and Special Secretary to the Chief Minister, will now serve as DM Kannauj.

2014 batch promotee IAS officer Nidhi Srivastava, DM Badaun, has been appointed as Special Secretary, Higher Education Department.

Other Key Transfers

Beyond the district-level changes, several senior officers were reassigned to strategic positions across departments:

  • 2018 batch IAS officer Sandeep BhagiaCDO Muzaffarnagar, has been appointed as Additional Commissioner, State Tax, Gautam Buddha Nagar.
  • 2021 batch IAS officer Kandarkar Kamalkishor (KKK) Deshbhushan, Joint Magistrate, Meerut, will take over as CDO Muzaffarnagar.
  • 2014 batch promotee IAS officer Raj Kumar I, who was on the waiting list, has been given the role of Special Secretary, Energy Department.

Transfers on Monday Night

This reshuffle comes a day after the late-night transfer of nine senior IAS officers on Monday, including:

  • Sameer VermaSecretary, Social Welfare Department, posted as Inspector General, Registration.
  • Bhupendra S. ChaudharySecretary, PWD, appointed as Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies.
  • Dr. HeeralalState Nodal Officer, PM Agriculture Irrigation Scheme, posted as Commissioner and Registrar, Cooperative Societies.
  • Naveen Kumar GSSecretary, Irrigation Department, has been given additional charge of the PM Agriculture Irrigation Scheme.
  • Pramod Kumar UpadhyayaSecretary, UPRERA, will serve as Cane Commissioner, replacing Prabhu N Singh, who has been placed on the waiting list.
  • Vaibhav SrivastavaSecretary, Home Department, has been made Managing Director of Pradeshik Cooperative Dairy Federation (PCDF).
  • B. ChandrakalaSecretary, Women Welfare, has been relieved of the additional charge of the Panchayati Raj Department.
  • Amit Kumar SinghSpecial Secretary, Urban Development Department, has been appointed as Director, Panchayati Raj.

Strategic Rebalancing

This two-day reshuffle highlights the Yogi Adityanath government’s focus on administrative rebalancing, aiming to bring in new energy and leadership across various departments and districts, especially ahead of upcoming governance milestones and policy implementations.