By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi following his predecessor and former CM Naveen Patnaik or unable to bring a balance among Babus. At least 9 Senior IAS Officers are currently managing Multiple Departments at the level of Principal Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, or Commissioner-cum-Secretary.
Current IAS Officers Holding Multiple Departments in Odisha Government:
As of January 12, 2026, the Odisha government under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi continues the practice of assigning multiple departments to senior IAS officers, similar to the approach during Naveen Patnaik’s long tenure (1999-2024). This is largely driven by administrative necessities, including a shortage of IAS officers—Odisha has 248 sanctioned IAS posts, but only 182 are currently filled, leaving 66 vacancies. Such multi-tasking helps maintain operational efficiency in a state with around 40 departments, but it can lead to overburdened officers and potential delays in decision-making. Below is a detailed analysis based on the latest available data from official notifications, reshuffles (including the major one on January 1, 2026), and government sources.
Key Observations:
Total IAS Officers Holding Multiple Departments: At least 9 senior IAS officers are currently managing more than one department at the level of Principal Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, or Commissioner-cum-Secretary. This represents a significant portion of the top bureaucracy, as Odisha’s departments are typically headed by around 30-35 such officers.
Reasons for Multiple Assignments:
Officer Shortage: With 66 vacant IAS posts, the government relies on additional charges to fill gaps without disrupting governance.
Continuity and Expertise: Senior officers with domain knowledge are often given overlapping roles in related sectors (e.g., industries and energy) to streamline policy implementation.
Recent Reshuffles: The January 1, 2026, reshuffle (following Anu Garg’s appointment as Chief Secretary) redistributed portfolios, increasing multiple holdings for some officers. This follows earlier reshuffles in July and October 2025, which also emphasized multi-department roles.
Comparison with Naveen Patnaik Era: Under Patnaik, multiple assignments were widespread, often centralized around key aides like V.K. Pandian (who at one point held over 10 portfolios). This was praised for efficient coordination but criticized for power concentration and favoritism. Majhi’s administration appears to follow a similar model but with a focus on development priorities (e.g., industries, disaster management), as outlined in his 15-point governance agenda for 2026. However, the scale seems slightly more distributed, with fewer “super-officers” holding 5+ departments compared to Patnaik’s time.
Impact Analysis:
Pros: Enables faster inter-departmental coordination, especially in critical areas like disaster management (Odisha is prone to cyclones) and economic growth (targeting a $500 billion economy by 2036).
Cons: Risks burnout, reduced focus on individual departments, and potential accountability issues. For instance, officers with 4+ departments may struggle with granular oversight.
Trends: Multiple holdings are more common among 1990s-batch officers, who bring experience. Women officers like Shubha Sarma and Usha Padhee are notably handling key dual roles, reflecting gender diversity in top posts.
Data Sources: Compiled from Odisha government portals (e.g., ga.odisha.gov.in notifications), recent news reports on reshuffles, and departmental websites. Note that exact assignments can change rapidly; this reflects the post-January 1, 2026, structure.
Detailed List of IAS Officers Holding Multiple Departments:
Here’s a breakdown of the 9 officers, their departments, batch details, and rationale for assignments (where evident). Departments are listed at the secretary level; additional roles like corporation chairmanships (e.g., CMD OPTCL) are noted but not counted as full departments unless they involve direct secretarial oversight.
Hemant Sharma (1995-batch IAS, Additional Chief Secretary), Departments: Industries; Information & Public Relations; Home. Total: 3.
Analysis: Sharma assumed the Home portfolio on January 2, 2026, after Satyabrata Sahu’s transfer. His role in Industries and Energy aligns with Majhi’s industrial push (e.g., approving ₹25,308 crore projects in late 2025). This heavy load (highest among current officers) could strain focus but leverages his experience in economic sectors.
Deoranjan Kumar Singh (1993-batch IAS, Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner).
Departments: Revenue & Disaster Management; Planning & Convergence. Total: 2 (plus additional roles like Special Relief Commissioner and MD, Odisha State Disaster Management Authority).
Analysis: Appointed to Planning & Convergence in the January 1 reshuffle while retaining Revenue & DM. This dual role is strategic for disaster-prone Odisha, ensuring integrated planning and response.
Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma (1999-batch IAS, Principal Secretary)
Departments: Excise; Forest, Environment & Climate Change. Total: 2 (plus additional charges like CMD, Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Ltd., and Chairman, Odisha State Beverages Corporation).
Analysis: Retained Excise and added Forest in the January 1 reshuffle. The combination supports environmental policy (e.g., climate change initiatives) alongside revenue-generating excise duties.
Shubha Sarma (1999-batch IAS, Principal Secretary)
Departments: Women & Child Development; Water Resources. Total: 2.
Analysis: Added Water Resources in the January 1 reshuffle. This pairs social welfare with infrastructure, aiding programs like irrigation for rural women farmers.
Usha Padhee (1996-batch IAS, Principal Secretary)
Departments: Commerce & Transport; Housing & Urban Development. Total: 2.
Analysis: No recent changes; her dual role facilitates urban mobility and housing projects, key to Odisha’s smart city initiatives.
Surendra Kumar (1993-batch IAS, Additional Chief Secretary)
Departments: Parliamentary Affairs; Steel & Mines. Total: 2 (plus role in General Administration).
Analysis: Stable since 2025; focuses on legislative coordination and mining (a major revenue source for Odisha).
Sanjay Kumar Singh (1997-batch IAS, Principal Secretary)
Departments: Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare; Works. Total: 2.
Analysis: Unchanged; oversees essential services like public distribution and infrastructure maintenance.
Chithra Arumugam (1995-batch IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary)
Departments: Labour & Employees’ State Insurance; Science & Technology. Total: 2.
Analysis: No updates; combines workforce welfare with tech innovation, supporting skill development goals.
Girish S.N. (2002-batch IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary)
Departments: Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water; Mission Shakti. Total: 2.
Analysis: Assumed additional Mission Shakti (women’s empowerment) in the October 2025 reshuffle. Synergizes rural governance with gender-focused programs.
Notable Single-Department Officers (for Context)
Many officers hold single departments, such as:
Arabinda Kumar Padhee (Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment).
N Thirumala Naik (School & Mass Education, post-October 2025).
Vishal Kumar Dev ( Energy).
If all departments were single-assigned, around 40 officers would be needed—but with vacancies, multiples are inevitable. Under CM Majhi, 9 IAS officers hold multiple departments, mirroring Patnaik’s strategy but adapted to current priorities like economic reforms and disaster resilience. This approach addresses immediate staffing gaps but may benefit from recruiting more officers to distribute workloads. For the most up-to-date details, refer to official GA Department notifications, as minor adjustments occur frequently.
