Gujarat Government – Major Administrative Reshuffle; 30 IAS Officers Transferred | Indian Bureaucracy Network
The Gujarat Government has effected a major administrative reshuffle involving 30 IAS officers, bringing significant changes across urban administration, district governance, energy and power utilities, rural development, social justice, skill development, civil supplies, cooperative administration and various state-level corporations. The latest orders involve the transfer and posting of officers to several important positions, including Municipal Commissioners, District Development Officers, Managing Directors of power companies, Regional Commissioners of Municipalities and heads of key development agencies.
One of the notable changes concerns the administration of Porbandar Municipal Corporation. Shri Suthar Raj Rameshchandra IAS (Gujarat 2019), presently Chief Executive Officer, Surat Urban Development Authority (SUDA), Surat, has been relieved from the appointment as Municipal Commissioner, Porbandar Municipal Corporation, Porbandar, with the appointment cancelled ab-initio. In a related development, Shri Tekchand C Tirthani IAS (Gujarat 2021), presently Additional Rural Development Commissioner, Commissionerate of Rural Development, Gandhinagar, has been transferred and posted as Municipal Commissioner, Porbandar Municipal Corporation, Porbandar.
The changes in Porbandar also include the transfer of Shri H J Prajapati IAS, presently Municipal Commissioner, Porbandar Municipal Corporation, Porbandar. He has been transferred and posted as District Development Officer, Amreli. The series of changes reflects a wider realignment of administrative responsibilities between urban local bodies and district administration.
Shri Prabhav Joshi IAS (Gujarat 2014), presently Municipal Commissioner, Junagadh Municipal Corporation, Junagadh, has been transferred and posted as Joint Managing Director, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), Gandhinagar. His transfer from Junagadh has led to a corresponding change in the leadership of the municipal corporation. Shri I R Vala IAS, presently Secretary, Sports Authority of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, has been transferred and posted as Municipal Commissioner, Junagadh Municipal Corporation, Junagadh.
The reshuffle also brings important changes in the administration of Gujarat’s power distribution companies. Shri K J Rathod IAS, presently Director, Skill Development, Gandhinagar, has been transferred and posted as Managing Director, Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (DGVCL), Surat. His movement to the power sector comes with a corresponding change in the skill development administration, with Shri P B Rathod IAS, presently Chief Executive Officer, Gujarat State Waqf Board, Gandhinagar, being transferred and placed at the disposal of the Labour, Skill Development & Employment Department for appointment as Director, Skill Development, Gandhinagar.
At Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (PGVCL), Shri K P Joshi IAS, presently Managing Director, Rajkot, has been transferred and posted as District Development Officer, Devbhumi-Dwarka. He will be succeeded in the power utility by Shri M D Chudasma IAS, presently Resident Additional Collector, Valsad, who has been transferred and posted as Managing Director, Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (PGVCL), Rajkot.
Another important change has been made in the leadership of Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (UGVCL). Shri Gaurangbhai H Makwana IAS (Gujarat 2012), presently Director, Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA), Gandhinagar, has been transferred and posted as Managing Director, Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (UGVCL), Mehsana. He was also holding charge of Managing Director, UGVCL.
Following the change, Shri D K Patel IAS, presently Officer on Special Duty, Commissionerate of Geology & Mining, Gandhinagar, has been transferred and posted as Director, Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA), Gandhinagar. His services have been placed at the disposal of the Climate Change Department for the new assignment.
The latest reshuffle also includes significant changes in district administration. Shri Smit Santosh Lodha IAS (Gujarat 2019), presently District Development Officer, Dahod, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Surat Municipal Corporation, Surat. He will be succeeded as District Development Officer, Dahod, by Shri Hiren Jitendrabhai Barot IAS (Gujarat 2022), presently Project Administrator, Tribal Area Sub Plan (PA-TASP), Arvalli-Modasa.
The posting of Shri Hiren Jitendrabhai Barot IAS to Dahod represents a change in the leadership of the district administration, while Shri Smit Santosh Lodha IAS will now take up responsibilities in the administration of Surat Municipal Corporation, one of Gujarat’s major urban local bodies.
Shri D K Brahmbhatt IAS, presently Managing Director, Gujarat Medical Services Corporation Ltd, Gandhinagar, has been transferred and posted as District Development Officer, Gandhinagar. In the health sector, Shri M P Pandya IAS, presently Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Gandhinagar, has been transferred and placed at the disposal of the Health and Family Welfare Department for appointment as Managing Director, Gujarat Medical Services Corporation Ltd, Gandhinagar.
The transfer of Shri M P Pandya IAS also brings a change in the administration of cooperative societies. Shri B K Joshi IAS, presently Executive Director, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation, Gandhinagar, has been transferred and posted as Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Gandhinagar.
The industrial development sector will consequently see a change in the senior leadership of GIDC, with Shri Prabhav Joshi IAS moving into the position of Joint Managing Director, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation, Gandhinagar.
The government has also made changes in the administration of municipalities. Shri R N Kuchara IAS, presently Director, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Arvalli-Modasa, has been transferred and placed at the disposal of the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department for appointment as Regional Commissioner of Municipalities, Rajkot.
Similarly, Shri C A Gandhi IAS, presently Joint Director, Directorate of Civil Supplies, Gandhinagar, has been transferred and placed at the disposal of the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department for appointment as Regional Commissioner of Municipalities, Vadodara. The two appointments will bring new administrative leadership to the regional municipal administration in Rajkot and Vadodara.
Urban development and livelihood administration has also witnessed a significant change. Shri Mahesh Shantilal Jani IAS (Gujarat 2019), presently Chairman, Gujarat State Social Welfare Board, Ahmedabad, has been transferred and placed at the disposal of the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department for appointment as Mission Director, Gujarat Urban Livelihood Mission, Gandhinagar.
The posting is expected to bring an experienced administrative officer into a key position connected with urban livelihood initiatives and programmes. The change also forms part of the broader reallocation of senior administrative responsibilities across the state’s urban development institutions.
The rural development sector has also seen several changes. Shri V G Patel IAS, presently Joint Commissioner, Regional Vishreshan Committee, Surat, has been transferred and appointed as Additional Rural Development Commissioner, Commissionerate of Rural Development, Gandhinagar. The appointment brings a new officer into the senior administrative structure of the Commissionerate of Rural Development.
Dr B S Prajapati IAS, presently Additional Collector (Narmada), Vadodara, has been transferred and placed at the disposal of the Panchayats, Rural Housing and Rural Development Department for appointment as Managing Director, Gujarat State Rural Development Corporation Ltd, Gandhinagar.
The government has also transferred Shri A K Vastani IAS, presently Director, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Rajkot, and appointed him as Director of Employment and Training, Gandhinagar. The new assignment places him in charge of an important area involving employment-related administration and training initiatives.
The latest orders also include changes in the Tribal Development sector. Shri M K Joshi IAS, presently Secretary, Gujarat Panchayat Service Selection Board, Gandhinagar, has been transferred and placed at the disposal of the Tribal Development Department for appointment as Chief Executive Officer, Development Support Agency of Gujarat (D-SAG), Gandhinagar.
The Development Support Agency of Gujarat has an important role in supporting tribal development programmes and initiatives, and the posting of Shri M K Joshi IAS represents another significant administrative movement within the state government.
The social justice and empowerment sector has also witnessed important changes. Shri B H Patel IAS, presently Additional Collector (Irrigation), Vadodara, has been transferred and placed at the disposal of the Social Justice and Empowerment Department for appointment as Managing Director, Gujarat Scheduled Castes Development Corporation, Gandhinagar.
Shri A K Joshi IAS, presently Comptroller of Household to the Hon Governor of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, has been transferred and placed at the disposal of the Social Justice and Empowerment Department for appointment as Managing Director, Gujarat Unreserved Educational & Economical Development Corporation, Gandhinagar.
The two appointments bring changes to the leadership of important corporations working in the field of social justice, educational support and economic development.
The latest administrative changes also include the continuation of certain officers in their present assignments. Shri B N Patel IAS, presently Executive Director, Gujarat Gas Limited, Gandhinagar, will continue as Executive Director, Gujarat Gas Limited, Gandhinagar. His services will continue to be placed at the disposal of the Energy and Petrochemicals Department for the assignment, which is being separately equated with the equivalent IAS cadre post.
Similarly, Shri V K Jadav IAS, presently Director, Developing Castes Welfare, Gandhinagar, will continue as Director, Developing Castes Welfare, Gandhinagar. His services will continue to be placed at the disposal of the Social Justice and Empowerment Department for the assignment, which is being separately equated with the equivalent IAS cadre post.
The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has also witnessed a key change. Shri C B Ganatra IAS, presently Personal Secretary to the Hon MoS for Water Resources and Water Supply, Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar, has been transferred and placed at the disposal of the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department for appointment as Managing Director, Gujarat State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd, Gandhinagar.
The posting brings an experienced administrative officer into the management of the state’s civil supplies corporation, an important institution involved in the administration and distribution of essential commodities.
Another significant transfer involves Shri K S Jhala IAS, presently Joint Managing Director, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited, Gandhinagar. He has been transferred and appointed as District Development Officer, Dangs-Ahwa.
The transfer represents a move from a state-level tourism organisation to district administration, bringing administrative experience to the leadership of the Dangs district.
The reshuffle covers a broad range of responsibilities and represents a significant reallocation of administrative positions across Gujarat. The movement of officers between municipal corporations, district administrations, public sector undertakings and state-level departments reflects the government’s effort to align administrative leadership with the requirements of various institutions.
The changes also show a clear pattern of movement between field-level and institutional assignments. Several officers have moved from district administration to municipal corporations or state-level organisations, while others have shifted from specialised departments and corporations to district-level responsibilities.
The transfer of Shri Prabhav Joshi IAS from Junagadh Municipal Corporation to GIDC, followed by the posting of Shri I R Vala IAS as Municipal Commissioner, Junagadh, is one such example. Similarly, the movement of Shri K P Joshi IAS from PGVCL to district administration has been accompanied by the appointment of Shri M D Chudasma IAS as Managing Director of the power company.
The transfer of Shri K J Rathod IAS to DGVCL has also led to a corresponding change in the Skill Development Directorate, with Shri P B Rathod IAS being moved into the post. The appointment of Shri D K Patel IAS as Director, GEDA, follows the transfer of Shri Gaurangbhai H Makwana IAS to UGVCL.
At the district level, the transfer of Shri Smit Santosh Lodha IAS from Dahod has resulted in the posting of Shri Hiren Jitendrabhai Barot IAS as District Development Officer, while Shri H J Prajapati IAS moves from Porbandar Municipal Corporation to the district administration of Amreli.
Overall, the Gujarat Government’s latest administrative reshuffle involves a wide-ranging reallocation of responsibilities among IAS officers across key areas of governance. From municipal administration and district development to energy distribution, rural development, social welfare, civil supplies and skill development, the changes cover a broad spectrum of public administration.
The appointments are expected to bring fresh administrative leadership to several important institutions and districts across the state. With officers taking charge of new responsibilities in municipal corporations, power utilities, development agencies, state corporations and district administrations, the reshuffle marks a significant administrative reorganisation in Gujarat.