Veera Rana, a 1988 batch IAS officer, who was serving as acting chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh, has been given the regular post of chief secretary.
With this she becomes only the second woman to hold the top post in the state's bureaucracy.
Nirmala Buch, a 1959-60 batch IAS officer was the first woman chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh. She had served at the top post from September 22, 1991 to January 1, 1993. In July last year, she died at the age of 97.
Rana has also been given the additional charge of the MP Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE) as its chairperson, an official said.
The 1988-batch IAS officer was serving as acting chief secretary after the retirement of incumbent Iqbal S Bains. Since Rana was appointed by former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, there were speculations that she may get changed. But the BJP government under the new leadership decided to retain her.
Veera Rana is scheduled to retire in March 2024. However, since work related to Lok Sabha election is unlikely to be completed by then, she may get extension of three of six months.
Sanjay Bandopadhyay made chairman of MPESB
Her batchmate Sanjay Bandopadhyay, who was repatriated from centre a week back has been made chairman of the MP Employees Selection Board (earlier known as Vyapam).
Bandopadhyay was serving as chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways. He had gone on central deputation in 2018 and the central government had upgraded his post to secretary level just two months in November before his repatriation.
When Bandopadhyay was suddenly repatriated to home cadre, senior IAS officers were expecting him to be the new chief secretary. But the chief minister Mohan Yadav in concurrence with central leadership decided to wait for the retirement of Veera Rana.
Sanjay Bandopadhyay, a Bangla speaking native of Madhya Pradesh, is scheduled to retire in August 2024.
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