Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday ordered a major administrative reshuffle, transferring and posting 49 IAS and JKAS officers, including changes in key district administrations, the Jammu Divisional Commissioner’s office and several important departments.
The reshuffle, ordered by the General Administration Department (GAD) through Government Order No. 1612-JK(GAD) of 2026 dated October 7, also saw the appointment of a new Director Information and changes in the leadership of the Health, Agriculture, Tourism, Social Welfare and Youth Services & Sports departments.
Among the most significant district-level changes, Kuldeep Krishan Sidha was posted as Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, while Charandeep Singh was appointed Deputy Commissioner, Shopian. Devansh Yadav was posted as Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma as Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, Rupesh Kumar as Deputy Commissioner, Samba and Ananth Dwivedi as Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur.
The government also shifted Vikas Kundal from the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board and posted him as Divisional Commissioner, Jammu. He will additionally hold the charge of Additional Chief Executive Officer, Jammu Metropolitan Regional Development Authority. Ramesh Kumar, who was serving as Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, has been posted as Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department while retaining charge of Resident Commissioner, J&K Government, New Delhi.
In the Information Department, Mamta Yadav was appointed Director Information, J&K. At the administrative level, R. Alice Vaz was transferred and posted as Commissioner/Secretary, Transport Department, while retaining the charge of Commissioner/Secretary, Information Department. She will also continue to hold additional charge of the Civil Aviation Department and Commissioner, Civil Aviation.
The Health and Medical Education Department will now be headed by Saugat Biswas, who has been posted as Commissioner/Secretary, while M. Raju has been relieved of the additional charge of the department. Raju, however, has been assigned additional charge of the Hospitality and Protocol Department and the Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department.
Dr Ashish Chandra Verma was transferred from the Tourism Department and posted as Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Agriculture Production Department. Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, has been given the additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Revenue Department.
Sarmad Hafeez was shifted from the Social Welfare Department and posted as Commissioner/Secretary, Youth Services and Sports Department, while Sagar Doifode Dattatray was posted as Administrative Secretary, Social Welfare Department.
Among other senior-level appointments, Avny Lavasa was posted as Secretary, Tourism Department while continuing as Administrative Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department. Anjali Sehrawat was posted as Secretary, Public Grievances Department and Rahul Yadav as Administrative Secretary, Information Technology Department while retaining additional charge of Managing Director, J&K Power Development Corporation Limited.
Owais Ahmed was posted as Administrative Secretary, Planning, Development and Monitoring Department and will also hold the additional charge of Director, Skill Development, J&K.
The reshuffle also brought changes in key autonomous and municipal bodies. Shrikant Balasaheb Suse was appointed Chairman, J&K Services Selection Board, while Akriti Sagar was posted as Managing Director, J&K Tourism Development Corporation and given additional charge of Chief Executive Officer, J&K Economic Reconstruction Agency.
Athar Aamir Ul Shafi Khan was posted as Managing Director, National Health Mission, J&K, while Rakesh Minhas was appointed Chief Executive Officer, State Health Agency, J&K, with additional charge of Managing Director, Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission.
Basharat Qayoom was posted as Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, with additional charge of Chief Executive Officer, Special Purpose Vehicle for Srinagar Smart City Project, while Ayushi Sudan was appointed Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation.
The government also appointed Majid Khalil Ahmad Drabu as Inspector General of Registration, J&K, and Naveen S. L. as Commissioner of Enquiries, J&K.
Among other postings, Mahima Madan was appointed Additional District Development Commissioner, Anantnag; Vidhu Shekhar was posted as Vice Chairman, Jammu Development Authority; Pranjal J. Hazarika as Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums; Vivek Agarwal as Director, Employment, J&K, with additional charge of CEO, Mission YUVA; and Vikas Ahlawat as Labour Commissioner, J&K.
The order further assigned Rakesh Kumar as Special Secretary, Lok Bhawan; Sachin Jamwal as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kathua; Sushil Kesar as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Reasi; and Irfan Bahadur as Assistant Commissioner (Revenue), Budgam. Afroza Bano has been transferred and directed to await further posting orders in the General Administration Department.
