A series of transfers has been implemented within the Bihar government, affecting numerous senior IAS officers. Dr. S. Siddharth, formerly the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has been appointed as the Development Commissioner of Bihar. This change also results in a shift within the Education Department.
The additional charge of ACS of the Education Department, previously managed by Dr. S. Siddharth, has now been assigned to Dr. B. Rajendra, who is the ACS of the General Administration Department. Concurrently, Harjot Kaur, the ACS of the Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Department, has been appointed as the Chairman-cum-Member of the Revenue Council. Moreover, Arvind Kumar Chaudhary, the ACS of the Home Department, will assume the additional role of Additional Chief Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat.
Furthermore, Anand Kishore, the Chairman of the Bihar School Examination Board, will take on the additional responsibilities of Principal Secretary for the Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Department.
Dr. S. Siddharth, a 1991-batch IAS officer, held the positions of Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department, Additional Chief Secretary of the Cabinet Department, and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. B. Rajendra, an IAS officer from the 1995 batch, has been assigned the additional charge of Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department. It is also worth noting that the current Development Commissioner, Pratyay Amrit, will become the Chief Secretary of the state starting from September 1. The government had already issued an order for his appointment.
Dr. S. Siddharth has been appointed as the Development Commissioner. The reasons behind the removal of his additional charge of the Education Department are being actively discussed within the administrative circles. During his tenure, Dr. S. Siddharth implemented many reforms in the Education Department, including model schools, teacher training and online complaint redressal. However, he also faced criticism for some policies, especially those related to teacher transfers and strict service conditions.
Dr. S. Siddharth was known for his sudden inspections of schools, often appearing unannounced. He would frequently make video calls to school principals, assessing classrooms, mid-day meals, and other aspects. This strict approach kept the school heads and teachers alert and prepared, contributing to a sense of anticipation regarding his next visit.