Administrative Overhaul Aims to Bolster Governance, Service Delivery Across the Union Territory
Srinagar 10 June 2025: In one of the most extensive bureaucratic overhauls in recent years, the Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered the transfer and posting of 135 JKAS (Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service) officers. This reshuffle affects a wide array of sectors, including planning, rural development, social welfare, education, and taxation, and is being seen as a calibrated move to reinvigorate administrative efficiency and ensure better delivery of public services.
The transfers, issued through multiple government orders, reflect a growing focus on merit-based placements, departmental restructuring, and district-level leadership realignment in a Union Territory navigating complex developmental and security dynamics.
Key Transfers: New Faces in Strategic Posts
Among the most notable reshuffles are appointments in high-impact departments that directly influence policy implementation, revenue administration, infrastructure development, and social outreach.
Top-Level Appointments:
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Bashir Ahmad Dar, previously Managing Director of JKPCC (J&K Projects Construction Corporation), has been appointed Secretary, J&K Public Service Commission, a critical role overseeing recruitment processes for various civil services.
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Rajinder Singh Tara, formerly Director General of Youth Services and Sports, has taken charge as Controller, Legal Metrology, a department responsible for ensuring compliance with weights and measures laws—a significant move towards consumer protection.
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Smita Sethi, who served as Secretary in the Industries and Commerce Department, will now serve as Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where she is expected to drive reforms in pharmaceutical and food safety regulation.
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Anuradha Gupta has been appointed Director General, Youth Services and Sports, a pivotal post amid growing focus on youth engagement and grassroots sports infrastructure.
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Mathora Masoom, a dynamic officer, now takes charge as Managing Director of J&K Financial Corporation, an entity critical to the UT’s push for industrial financing and MSME support.
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Mohammad Mumtaz Ali, earlier Director of Rural Development (Jammu), will now helm the Directorate of Tribal Affairs, a key position in the backdrop of focused tribal outreach and welfare schemes.
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Nawab Din has been appointed Custodian General, J&K, a constitutional position with jurisdiction over evacuee property matters—a portfolio with both historical and legal sensitivities.
Mid-Level and District Administrative Realignments
The reshuffle has also impacted mission directorates, district development departments, and departmental secretariats. These include:
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Musheer Ahmed → Mission Director, ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services)
Will oversee crucial schemes related to maternal and child nutrition, especially relevant post-pandemic. -
Shahnaz Akhter → Director, Rural Development, Jammu
A strategic rural portfolio tied to MGNREGA, sanitation drives, and panchayati raj. -
Rishpal Singh → Special Secretary, Industries & Commerce
Expected to support J&K’s industrial growth and logistics policy execution. -
Fayaz Ahmad Banday → Director, Command Area Development, Kashmir
Plays a key role in irrigation and agricultural land productivity enhancement projects. -
Prerna Raina → Special Secretary, Power Development Department (PDD)
Tasked with overseeing reforms and transparency in electricity distribution. -
Rimpy Ohri → Director, Public Relations, New Delhi
Strengthening the UT’s visibility and engagement with the central media and policy stakeholders. -
Subash Chander → Special Secretary, Higher Education Department
To steer curriculum modernization and new institution development under NEP 2020. -
Ved Prakash → Regional Director, Survey & Land Records, Udhampur
Supports the digitization of land records under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).
Administrative Significance of the Reshuffle
This wide-scale reshuffle is being interpreted by analysts as a proactive governance measure with several objectives:
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Injecting new leadership at the grassroots and departmental levels
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Addressing regional and developmental imbalances through balanced postings
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Boosting transparency and accountability, especially in sectors dealing with public delivery like food, health, and education
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Realigning personnel to match evolving UT priorities—especially infrastructure push, digital governance, and industrial development post Article 370 abrogation
Moreover, the reshuffle aligns with the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, Panchayat-level developmental planning, and preparations for potential elections—making administrative readiness a key concern.
Access the Full List of Transfers
To maintain transparency, the General Administration Department (GAD) has released the complete list of 135 JKAS officers and their new postings. The document is available on the official GAD website and via this [direct link (insert URL if publishing)].
Bottom-Line: Towards a More Responsive Bureaucracy
This reshuffle—one of the most expansive in recent memory—signals the Jammu & Kashmir administration’s intent to make its bureaucracy more agile, transparent, and accountable. It also reflects the UT’s broader ambition to modernize governance structures and reinforce trust in institutions.
With these administrative adjustments, all eyes are now on policy outcomes, implementation efficiency, and the quality of citizen-centric service delivery in the months to come.
