Manoj Kumar Singh Appointed Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, Replaces Durga Shankar Mishra

Lucknow, 1st July 2024: Senior IAS officer Manoj Kumar Singh assumed the position of Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, according to an official statement.

A 1988-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Singh replaced Durga Shankar Mishra, the statement added.

Previously, Singh served as the Agriculture Production Commissioner, Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner, and Additional Chief Secretary of the Panchayati Raj department of Uttar Pradesh.

In a conversation with reporters, Singh stated, “This is an opportunity for our entire team of officers to contribute to the betterment of the 24 crore people of the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.”

Regarding the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Singh expressed his commitment to organizing the ‘MahaKumbh 2025’ in an improved and more structured manner.

Singh played a key role in executing Adityanath’s vision of turning the 2019 Kumbh Mela into a grand global event. As the nodal officer, he managed its preparations, and now, as Chief Secretary, his experience will be crucial in ensuring the success of the ‘Mahakumbh 2025,’ the statement highlighted.

Singh also emphasized his dedication to ensuring that justice is accessible and issues are resolved impartially at the block, tehsil, and police station levels.

Throughout his career, Singh has held significant administrative positions, including District Magistrate of Lalitpur, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Pilibhit, Moradabad, and Aligarh, and Divisional Commissioner of Moradabad. He is regarded as a key figure in Adityanath’s team.

The statement also noted Singh’s pivotal role during the Covid-19 pandemic, where he was part of teams that significantly contributed to controlling the virus’s spread in rural areas.

Additionally, Singh made substantial contributions to the planning and implementation of Adityanath’s ‘BC Sakhi’ scheme, which brings banking services directly to people’s doorsteps.

Durga Shankar Mishra, a 1984-batch IAS officer, was due to retire on December 31, 2021. However, he was repatriated to his parent cadre, Uttar Pradesh, and appointed as its Chief Secretary just two days before his retirement. He continued in the role through an extension of service.