Rajasthan Bureaucracy Upended: CM Bhajan Lal Sharma’s Year of Massive Transfers and Power Shifts
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma oversees massive bureaucratic reshuffle with over 1,100 officer transfers in 2025.
As 2025 comes to a close, Rajasthan’s administrative machinery has experienced one of its most turbulent years in recent memory. Under Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, more than 70 transfer lists were issued, moving over 1,100 officers across IAS, IPS, and RAS cadres, signalling a decisive effort to reshape governance according to the new government’s priorities.
The reshuffle affected all levels of administration, from top secretariat posts to sub-divisional officers. District collectors, departmental secretaries, and heads of key institutions saw significant changes, with major reshuffles in January, June, and November altering the administrative command structure. The police force underwent similar transformations, with 281 officers from SPs to DIGs reassigned across districts.
A highlight of the year was the appointment of Rajiv Kumar Sharma as Director General of Police on July 3, reflecting a focus on professionalising policing and strengthening law and order. Simultaneously, the Rajasthan Administrative Service experienced intense churn, with over 675 RAS officers transferred multiple times, making 2025 one of the most unstable years for mid-level administration.
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At the apex of the bureaucracy, V. Srinivas assumed charge as Chief Secretary in November, following the recall of Sudhansh Pant. Srinivas’s appointment, noted for its emphasis on digital reforms and innovation, was widely seen as aligning the administration with technology-driven governance objectives.
The reshuffles also sent a clear political message. Officers closely associated with the previous Congress regime were systematically moved out of key positions, while trusted officers were placed in sensitive departments. Critics, however, raised concerns that frequent transfers could undermine institutional memory and slow decision-making.
As Rajasthan steps into 2026, the legacy of 2025 is unmistakable: a year of rapid transfers, shifting power centres, and assertive governance. While supporters claim these changes strengthened administrative efficiency, skeptics question whether such a whirlwind of reshuffles will translate into long-term improvements on the ground. For officers, it was undeniably the year when no chair felt permanent.
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