Bureaucratic reshuffle in UP: Two record innings come to an end amid questions of why and how
While Sharma came across as one of the most trusted lieutenants of the powers that be, Shishir was considered among the closest to chief minister Yogi Adityanath. Both officers created a record of sorts for their long stints in a state earlier known for shorter tenures.
Kaushal Raj Sharma remained in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency - Varanasi - for over 5 years - first as the district magistrate and then as the commissioner of Varanasi division, before being shifted to Lucknow late on Monday night, as secretary to the chief minister. Shishir held the post of director of information, UP, for nearly 7 years in a row - the longest tenure in at least three decades on a seat considered vital to both the chief minister and his government's public relations and publicity.
He is now special secretary, MSME, and CEO of Khadi and Gramudyog Board. The reshuffle brought an end to these long innings.
Sharma held various important positions, including CDO (Lucknow) and special secretary in the infrastructure and industrial development department. His experience as DM in five districts, including Lucknow, Pilibhit, Muzaffarnagar, Prayagraj and Kanpur Nagar probably came in handy for him when he was chosen for one of the most sensitive and important post of Varanasi DM. He assumed charge as Varanasi DM on November 2, 2019. It was probably because of the hard work he put in and his efficient handling of public affairs as Varanasi DM that the state government was compelled to cancel his transfer when he was promoted and posted out of Varanasi as divisional commissioner Prayagraj in June 2022.
Kaushal Raj Sharma held dual charge as Varanasi DM and Varanasi divisional commissioner for some time and thereafter continued to work as divisional commissioner since October 7, 2022. Efforts for relief during Covid lockdown, panchayat elections, 2022 UP assembly elections and G-20 summit were among the challenges of his tenure as DM and commissioner, Varanasi.
On the other hand, Shishir, who was posted as director, information, UP, in 2018 for the Yogi Adityanath-led government, continued to work on the post for nearly seven years. A state civil service officer, he was promoted to IAS (2013 batch). Shishir had one of the longest tenures as director, information, and made his mark not only for his proximity to the powers that be, but also for his courteous demeanor and efficient handling of challenges. Shishir was able to avoid any political controversies while performing his duties even during 2019 Lok Sabha, 2022 UP assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Mahakumbh was also held in his tenure as director of information.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
26 minutes ago
- Hans India
Op Sindoor debate in RS: EAM Jaishankar's ‘China gurus' jab at Opposition
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Wednesday derided and mocked the Opposition for 'alerting' the government about the China-Pakistan fusion, particularly during the recent military face-off under Operation Sindoor, thereby posing a grave threat to India's national security. Participating in the Operation Sindoor debate in the Rajya Sabha, the External Affairs Minister took a jibe at the Opposition members by claiming that some 'China gurus' are giving lectures to the government despite their own history of hobnobbing and discounting the dragon on several occasions. Jaishankar's response comes in the wake of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi sounding alarm bells over the "China-Pakistan fusion" and why the government needed to 'wake up' to the threats of the 21st century. Without taking names, Jaishankar said, 'There are China gurus on the other side, who mock my understanding of global perspective despite being one of the longest serving ambassadors,' eliciting cheers and applause from the treasury benches. He dug out history to shed light on how the two neighbouring nations - Pakistan and China -- came together and named several instances when they joined hands to corner India and also called out the previous Congress government's 'ignorance' on issues of national security. 'Today, China gurus claim that China-Pakistan combo is a serious threat, but it all started with the giving away of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and then several strategic partnerships between them, including Pakistan-China treaty of China friendship (2005), Gwadar airport deal (2013),' he pointed out. Further blaming the Congress-led dispensation for turning a blind eye to Hambantota port, he informed the House that the then government said it was 'no matter of concern' despite it posing as a strategic threat to India's maritime security. Responding sharply to P. Chidambaram's question on what transpired during his recent China visit, the Minister took a swipe, saying, 'unlike others, he didn't discuss anything secretly'. 'We discussed terrorism, de-escalation, fostering relationship based on mutual respect and mutual trust and mutual sensitivity,' he said, highlighting the Modi government's firm stance on foreign policy. He also thanked all the members of the Parliament, including Shashi Tharoor, Kanimozhi and others who stood together and presented a united front during India's diplomatic outreach after the operation, and exposed Pakistan's brazen hand in global terror.
New Indian Express
34 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
PM Modi not able to say 'Trump is lying' as US President will then lay bare truth: Rahul Gandhi
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot state that US President Donald Trump is lying about his role in bringing about a ceasefire between India and Pakistan as if he does so, the American leader will lay bare the truth. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said Prime Minister Modi should state clearly in Parliament that the US president is lying. The remarks by the Gandhi siblings came after Trump repeated his claim about playing a role in bringing about a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Asked about Trump's latest remarks repeating his claims and that India is preparing to face higher US tariffs between 20 and 25 per cent, Gandhi said, "It is obvious, the prime minister has not said that Trump is lying. It is obvious what has happened. Everyone knows, he is not able to say it. That is the reality." "If the prime minister says it, then he (Trump) will say openly and will lay bear the truth so that is why the PM is not able to say anything," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said. Gandhi said Trump is making the remarks to put pressure on the Indian government for the trade deal. "Now, you see what kind of trade deal happens," he told reporters in the Parliament House complex. Asked about Trump repeating his claims, Priyanka Gandhi said, "If you hear the words used by the prime minister and the external affairs minister carefully, they are vague. They should say it directly. Rahul ji said yesterday also, he (Modi) should say that the US president is lying. He should say it in Parliament."
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
IAS Medha Roopam education: How this St. Stephen's economics grad and shooting champion became NOIDA's first woman DM
Medha Roopam becomes NOIDA's first woman District Magistrate. On a July night when Uttar Pradesh shuffled its bureaucratic deck, a historic headline broke at dawn: Medha Roopam had become NOIDA's first woman District Magistrate. For a district used to concrete, cranes, and power corridors, the news carried a different kind of weight—a glass ceiling quietly shattered by a young IAS officer who had built her life on precision, grit, and an unflinching sense of purpose. Medha Roopam: An IAS in the making Born in Agra in 1990, Medha grew up in a family where public service wasn't a career choice, but almost a genetic inheritance. Her father, Gyanesh Kumar, an IAS officer from the 1988 batch and later India's Chief Election Commissioner, embodied the quiet dignity of governance. Family gatherings were less about small talk and more about how policy decisions altered lives on the ground. Her schooling began in Naval Public School, Ernakulam, later moving to St. Thomas School, Thiruvananthapuram for higher secondary education. The south Indian ethos of rigour and discipline left its mark. But it was at St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, that her worldview sharpened. As an Economics (Honours) student, Medha dissected fiscal policies, growth paradoxes, and the chasm between planning tables and poverty lines. She cracked the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2013, bagging an All India Rank 10 with Psychology as her optional subject—a blend of data-driven analysis and human understanding that would become her leadership style. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brain tumor has left my son feeling miserable; please help! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Medha Roopam: The markswoman's discipline Long before the corridors of power, Medha mastered another kind of focus—the kind that comes with holding a rifle steady. She trained in the 10-metre air rifle event during her school years and rose to win three gold medals in the Kerala State Shooting Championship, representing the state in national-level tournaments. The sport taught her precision, patience, and an ability to filter out chaos—all qualities that would later serve her well in districts where governance was often a high-stakes balancing act. Medha Roopam's career: A path of precision, pressure and balance Medha Roopam's administrative journey has been less about polished boardrooms and more about rolling up sleeves in Uttar Pradesh's toughest districts. She started out in Bareilly and Meerut, learning the real grammar of governance—not from textbooks, but from chaotic field offices and public grievances that arrive faster than solutions. As District Magistrate of Hapur, she wasn't one for token announcements. Under her watch, the Ayushman Bharat scheme didn't just sit in files; more than 1.3 lakh golden cards reached real hands, and immunisation drives stopped being photo-ops and started touching nearly every household. Then came Kasganj, where nature tested bureaucracy. Floodwaters swallowed roads and cut off villages, but Roopam ditched the SUV and rode a tractor through submerged lanes, coordinating rescue and relief on the spot. In a state where disaster management often means meetings and memos, she chose mud and knee-deep water. Later, as Additional CEO of Greater NOIDA Authority, she swapped flood zones for land deals and investor impatience. Jewar Airport and Film City projects brought their own storms—land disputes, community pushback, and deadlines that didn't care about bureaucracy's pace. Roopam learned to walk the tightrope between ambition and ground reality, keeping projects moving without letting promises sink in red tape. A new chapter in NOIDA Now, as NOIDA's first woman DM, Medha steps into a district where ambition runs faster than traffic, expectations are high, and every decision is under a magnifying glass. Yet, her journey—from economics classrooms to rifle podiums to disaster-hit villages—suggests a style of leadership that is grounded, people-focused, and unafraid to act when it matters most. For NOIDA, this is not just history being made—it's a chance to watch how a scholar, shooter, and civil servant might redraw the boundaries of governance in one of India's most restless cities. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
