In a significant bureaucratic reshuffle, senior IAS officer Puneet Kumar Goel is all set to be appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Manipur, replacing Prashant Kumar Singh, who has been moved to a central post. The reshuffle was formalised following two separate orders issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on July 15 and 16, with the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
As per the first order, Prashant Kumar Singh, a 1993-batch IAS officer of the Manipur cadre, has been appointed as Secretary to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST). He will assume the role in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India, succeeding Puneet Kumar Goel, who previously held the position.
In a parallel development, the ACC has also cleared the inter-cadre deputation of Puneet Kumar Goel, a 1991-batch officer of the AGMUT cadre, to the Manipur cadre. His deputation will continue until August 31, 2026, which marks the date of his superannuation. The transfer has been approved by curtailing his central deputation tenure and by relaxing standard cadre rules—moves that suggest urgency and special consideration by the Centre.
While the order does not specifically mention Goel’s new designation in Manipur, the timing and circumstances strongly indicate that he is being sent to take over as the next Chief Secretary of Manipur. Such long-term deputations, especially till retirement, are typically aligned with high-level postings such as Chief Secretary. The fact that the order has been
Puneet Kumar Goel brings with him extensive administrative experience, having served in several crucial roles across both the central and state governments. His earlier appointments include senior positions in the Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Transport Department, South Delhi Municipal Corporation, and departments handling power, and SC/ST/OBC welfare. He has also served as Chief Secretary of Goa, and most recently, as Secretary to the NCST in the Government of India.
The anticipated transition comes at a time when Manipur remains under President’s Rule amid continuing ethnic tensions and a complex law-and-order situation. The central government’s decision to bring in a seasoned bureaucrat like Goel is seen as an attempt to introduce stable leadership and administrative oversight during a critical period for the state.
A formal notification from the Government of Manipur confirming Goel’s appointment as Chief Secretary is expected soon.