Senior IAS officer Rajeev Singh Thakur, a 1995-batch Rajasthan-cadre officer, is set to be appointed as the next Chief Secretary of Manipur. He is expected to succeed Dr Puneet Kumar Goel, the 1991-batch AGMUT-cadre officer, who will retire from service on August 31, 2026.
The Centre has approved Thakur’s inter-cadre deputation from Rajasthan to Manipur following clearance from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). His deputation has been sanctioned until June 30, 2029, which is also his scheduled date of superannuation.
The inter-cadre move has been permitted by the Centre as a relaxation of the prevailing deputation policy. His appointment is expected to bring a senior and experienced administrator to the top bureaucratic position in Manipur.
At present, Rajeev Singh Thakur is working as an Adviser with NITI Aayog, holding the rank and pay of an Additional Secretary. He was appointed to the position in February 2025 after the ACC approved his appointment.
With Thakur’s proposed move to Manipur, the state is set for a change at the highest level of its administrative machinery following the retirement of the incumbent Chief Secretary.
See the official order:
