Imphal | Senior IAS officer Rajeev Singh Thakur is likely to be appointed as the next Chief Secretary of Manipur after the Centre approved his inter-cadre deputation to the state.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the transfer of Thakur, a 1995-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, to the Manipur cadre by curtailing his ongoing central deputation. According to the approval, Thakur will remain on inter-cadre deputation to Manipur until June 30, 2029, when he is scheduled to retire. The extension has been approved as a relaxation of the existing deputation policy.

The proposal for his transfer was moved by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

Thakur’s appointment as Chief Secretary is expected to be formally notified by the Manipur government. If appointed, he will take charge of the state’s top bureaucratic position at a critical juncture, as Manipur continues efforts to restore peace and normalcy following the prolonged ethnic conflict.

His elevation is also expected to bring continuity to the state administration as the government works on rehabilitation, restoration of public services and other measures aimed at rebuilding confidence and stability. The appointment will be closely watched given the key role of the Chief Secretary in coordinating the civil administration, security agencies and various departments during the ongoing recovery process.