NEW DELHI: Senior IAS officer Rajeev Singh Thakur has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Manipur with immediate effect. A 1995-batch officer of the Rajasthan cadre, Thakur has moved to Manipur on inter-cadre deputation following approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

Thakur succeeds Puneet Kumar Goel, who retired as Manipur's Chief Secretary on August 31, 2026. The Centre approved Thakur's deputation after relaxing the applicable deputation policy. His deputation to Manipur will continue until June 30, 2029, when he is scheduled to retire from government service.

Along with his responsibilities as Chief Secretary, Thakur will handle Department of Personnel, Cabinet and Planning matters. He has also been given additional charge as Chief Vigilance Commissioner and Principal Resident Commissioner of Manipur Bhawan in New Delhi.

Thakur brings more than three decades of experience in both state and Central government administration. During his career in Rajasthan, he served in several important district-level positions, including as District Collector of Banswara, Bhilwara, Alwar, Karauli and Sri Ganganagar. He has also worked in areas including rural development, livelihoods, food and civil supplies.

At the Central level, Thakur has held senior positions in the Ministry of Defence, Department of Military Affairs and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). He has also served in the Ministries of Rural Development, Road Transport and Highways, and Railways. Before his move to Manipur, he was serving as an Adviser at NITI Aayog, a position he took up in February 2025.

The appointment comes at an important time for Manipur, as the state administration continues efforts aimed at restoring peace, strengthening governance and supporting relief and rehabilitation following prolonged ethnic conflict. Thakur's experience in district administration, policymaking and Central government institutions is expected to be valuable as the state addresses these challenges.

The appointment also brings a senior administrator with experience across multiple levels of government into the state's top bureaucratic position. His tenure is expected to focus on improving administrative coordination and supporting the government's efforts to restore normalcy and strengthen public administration.