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Eight IAS Officers, Including Yogi Adityanath’s Close Aide Sanjay Prasad, Elevated as Additional Chief Secretaries
The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday carried out a significant administrative reshuffle by promoting eight senior IAS officers of the 1995 batch to the rank of Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), a move that strengthens the state’s top bureaucratic leadership at a time when governance delivery, power sector reforms, and institutional accountability remain under close political and public scrutiny.
Among those elevated is Sanjay Prasad, the Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary and one of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s most trusted bureaucratic aides. His promotion, along with that of seven other officers, reflects the state government’s effort to fill long-pending vacancies at the apex level of the administrative hierarchy and ensure continuity in key policy-driving departments.
The promotion order was issued by M. Devaraj, Principal Secretary (Appointments), following the clearance of vacancies created earlier this year when officers from the 1994 batch were promoted to the ACS level. The latest elevation is based strictly on cadre vacancies and seniority norms applicable to the 1995 batch.
Who Are the Officers Promoted
Of the eight officers promoted, five are currently serving in Uttar Pradesh, and their promotions have taken immediate effect. The remaining three officers, who are presently posted with the central government, have been granted proforma promotions, which will become effective once they assume charge in Uttar Pradesh.
The officers promoted with immediate effect include:
- Sanjay Prasad, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister
- Ashish Kumar Goyal, Chairman, Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited
- Amrit Abhijat, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture, and Religious Affairs
- R. Ramesh Kumar, Member, Board of Revenue
- Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries
The three officers currently on central deputation who have received proforma ACS status are:
- Bhuvnesh Kumar
- Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan
- Santosh Kumar Yadav
All promoted officers will now draw salary and allowances under Pay Matrix Level 17 of the Seventh Pay Commission, which carries a fixed pay of ₹2.25 lakh per month, excluding other benefits.
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Administrative Continuity and Political Trust
Sanjay Prasad’s elevation is particularly noteworthy. As the Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary, he has been closely involved in policy coordination, flagship scheme monitoring, and inter-departmental execution. His promotion ensures administrative continuity at the very top of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), especially with major infrastructure, investment, and welfare initiatives entering crucial implementation phases.
Similarly, Ashish Kumar Goyal’s elevation comes amid ongoing reforms in Uttar Pradesh’s power sector, including efforts to improve financial sustainability, reduce transmission losses, and modernise distribution infrastructure. With ACS rank, Goyal is expected to wield greater administrative authority in navigating politically sensitive reforms.
Cadre Strength and Promotion Pattern
This is the second major ACS-level promotion exercise in recent months. Earlier, three officers from the 1994 batch were elevated. With those vacancies filled, the state government moved quickly to promote eligible officers from the 1995 batch.
Senior officials say the move helps address administrative bottlenecks caused by long-standing vacancies at the ACS level, which often delay decision-making across departments dealing with finance, energy, infrastructure, and revenue administration.
Uttar Pradesh currently has one of the largest IAS cadres in the country, and promotions at the top levels often have cascading effects on postings, departmental leadership, and policy execution.
Concern Grows Over Asset Disclosure Compliance by IAS Officers
Even as promotions were announced, the state government is grappling with a parallel issue that raises questions about bureaucratic accountability and transparency.
According to official sources, 443 out of 683 IAS officers in the Uttar Pradesh cadre have failed to submit their annual property returns on the government’s SPARROW portal. The Appointments Department has taken the lapse seriously and has issued a confidential internal alert directing officers to comply within the stipulated timeline.
Under service rules, IAS officers are required to declare movable and immovable assets every year, including those acquired during the financial year. For assets acquired in 2025, the deadline for submission is January 31.
So far, only 240 officers have complied fully, while 443 have either failed to submit details or left the declaration incomplete. Notably, officials revealed that 12 officers have saved their asset details in draft form but have not submitted the final declaration, effectively rendering the disclosure invalid.
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Internal Review Flags Laxity
A recent internal review by the Appointments Department flagged what officials described as a “pattern of casual compliance” among officers, prompting the issuance of the alert. While no disciplinary action has been announced yet, officials indicated that continued non-compliance could invite administrative consequences under service conduct rules.
The timing of the alert—coinciding with senior-level promotions—has drawn attention within bureaucratic circles, underscoring the government’s dual message: career progression must go hand in hand with accountability.
Why This Matters
The elevation of eight IAS officers strengthens Uttar Pradesh’s administrative leadership, but the widespread delay in asset disclosures highlights a persistent governance challenge. As the state positions itself as an investment and infrastructure hub, institutional credibility and transparency within the bureaucracy remain critical.
How effectively the government enforces disclosure norms in the coming weeks may signal its seriousness about internal reforms beyond headline-making promotions.
