Manipur is set to get its fifth chief secretary in about three years, with incumbent Puneet Kumar Goel due to retire on August 31, underscoring the frequent changes at the top of the state administration since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh hosted Goel at his official residence on Saturday evening ahead of his retirement. The Chief Minister thanked the outgoing chief secretary for his service and highlighted his role in efforts to resettle internally displaced people and restore peace in the state.
Goel, a 1991-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, assumed charge as Manipur's chief secretary on July 21, 2025. He had taken over at a time when the state administration was grappling with the continuing fallout of ethnic violence, displacement and security challenges.
Thakur tipped to take charge
Senior IAS officer Rajeev Singh Thakur is likely to succeed Goel, although the Manipur government is yet to formally announce its next chief secretary. Thakur is a 1995-batch IAS officer who has been serving at NITI Aayog as programme director for administration, governance and reforms and infrastructure connectivity. The Department of Personnel and Training issued an order on August 28 approving his transfer from the Rajasthan cadre to the Manipur cadre. His central deputation tenure has been curtailed to facilitate the move.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Thakur's inter-cadre transfer until June 30, 2029, when he is scheduled to retire. The transfer was cleared by relaxing the existing policy governing such moves.
Five chief secretaries since 2023
The impending change will make Thakur the fifth chief secretary to serve Manipur since the outbreak of ethnic conflict in May 2023. Vineet Joshi was serving as chief secretary when the violence began. He was succeeded by Prashant Kumar Singh in January 2025. Puneet Goel subsequently took over in July that year and will now leave the post following his superannuation.
Rajesh Kumar, who served until May 2023, also falls within the succession of five top bureaucrats over roughly the past three years. The frequent changes have come during one of the most challenging periods for Manipur's administration, with successive chief secretaries having to deal with prolonged ethnic tensions, security concerns, rehabilitation of displaced families and efforts to restore normalcy.
New chief secretary faces security challenges
The next chief secretary will assume office at a sensitive time, with tensions between different communities continuing to pose challenges for the administration. Fresh concerns emerged this week after four Naga civilians were killed in an ambush by unidentified gunmen in Kangpokpi district on Wednesday. Beyond maintaining law and order, the incoming chief secretary will face the continuing task of rehabilitating people displaced by the conflict, rebuilding confidence between communities and coordinating with security agencies and the Centre as the state attempts to move towards lasting stability.