Bhubaneswar, June 28: Manoj Ahuja, a 1990-batch Odisha cadre IAS officer, was appointed as the Chief Secretary of Odisha on Friday.
The Centre on Tuesday gave its nod to allow senior Ahuja’s return to Odisha from Central deputation. The development comes as the newly elected BJP Government in the State wanted the Centre to facilitate Ahuja’s return to Odisha.
The return of Ahuja, who held the post of Union Agriculture Secretary, will succeed incumbent Pradeep Jena whose tenure, which was extended by six months, will end on June 30.
“On repatriation from Government of India, Shri Manoj Ahuja, IAS (RR-1990) is appointed as Chief Secretary, Odisha and Secretary to Government General Administration & Public Grievance Department consequent upon the retirement of Shri Pradeep Jena, IAS w.e.f. 30.06.2024 (AN),” read a notification of the GA & PG Department.
Manoj Ahuja, a 1990-batch Odisha cadre IAS officer, was appointed as OSD, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in February 2022. He took over as Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on March 31, 2022.
Ahuja’s appointment is the first major bureaucratic decision by the first BJP Government in the State.
