Avanish Awasthi, a 1987 batch former IAS, who was serving as advisor to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath after retirement, gets an extension of one year till February 2025.
Awasthi is considered one of the closest bureaucrats of Yogi Adityanath. He has been serving as advisor to CM since September 2022 after superannuation in August 2022.
This is the second extension for Avanish Awasthi on this post, which was initially created for till February 2023. Then it was first extended to February 2024 and now for another one year.
Avanish Awasthi is the longest serving additional chief secretary in home department of Uttar Pradesh government. He has also served in important departments like tourism, public relations and played an important role in fighting against Covid.
He was instrumental in setting up oxygen plants in Uttar Pradesh during Covid when there was shortage of oxygen.
Awasthi's wife Malini Awasthi is a renowned folk singer and is a Padma Shree awardee. She has sung many songs in Bollywood movie and is best known for her songs in movie Adam Laga Ke Haisha.
Avanish Awasthi was called back from deputation
When Yogi Adityanath became chief minister in 2017, Avanish Awasthi, who was then on central deputation was called back to his home cadre Uttar Pradesh. That time Awasthi was serving as joint secretary in social justice and empowerment department at centre.
When Awasthi came back, he was given tourism and information and public relations department. Later he became additional chief secretary home in 2019 and remained on this post till retirement. He was given free hand by Yogi Adityanath when he was serving.
Avanish Awasthi has a major role to play in the improvement of law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh. The crime rate has gone down in the state and there is now fear among criminals. After retirement, Yogi created a special post of advisor to seek his services.
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