Secretariat: The Bihar government on Tuesday formally notified the elevation of development commissioner Deepak Kumar as the state's next chief secretary.

Kumar will take over charge from Anjani Kumar Singh, who retires on May 31.

As reported by The Telegraph on May 18, that Kumar - a 1984 batch officer - would get the covered post had become clear when he was granted pre-mature repatriation to his home cadre from the Centre, where he served as chairman of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Outgoing chief secretary Anjani Singh is being tipped to take over as advisor to the chief minister after his superannuation. During Rabri Devi's tenure as chief minister, Mukund Prasad was also made advisor after he retired as chief secretary.

The state government also carried out a shuffle in the higher bureaucracy. Director-general, Bihar Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (BIPARD), Shashi Shekhar Sharma, will be the new development commissioner. He will hold additional charge of the post he currently holds. Sharma, who belongs to the 1985 batch, will, however, have a short tenure of three months as development commissioner as he is due to retire on August 31.

Another 1985 batch officer, Tripurari Sharan, who is on long leave, has been appointed principal secretary, forest and environment. He will hold additional charge of the vigilance department.

Principal secretary, cooperative, Amrit Lal Meena has been shifted to road construction, a department of which he held additional charge. Meena has also been given additional charge of the panchayati raj department.

Principal secretary, science and technology, Anshul Arya has been shifted to the mines and geology department in the same capacity. Purnea divisional commissioner T.N. Bindhyshwari will replace her Magadh counterpart Jitendra Srivastava, who has been made secretary in the public health and engineering department.

Chief advisor, Bihar State Planning Board, Harjot Kaur has been named principal secretary, science and technology. Chairman of the Bihar Pul Nirman Nigam Ltd Mayank Barbare has been made Darbhanga commissioner.

Three more IAS officers have been given additional charge. Principal secretary, social welfare, Atul Prasad has been given additional charge of the cooperative department. Secretary, rural works department, Vinay Kumar will hold additional charge as secretary to the chief minister. Kosi commissioner Safina A.N. will hold additional charge of Purnea region.