Senior IAS officer Shashi Prakash Goyal has been appointed the new Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh after the central government declined to extend the tenure of outgoing Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh.
Mr Singh retired on Thursday after 37 years of service in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
The new Chief Secretary took the charge from the outgoing here on Thursday evening.
The Yogi Adityanath-led state government had written to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on July 3, requesting an extension for Mr Singh, but the central government turned down the request. Sources indicate that several powerful Union ministers opposed Singh’s extension, leading to the decision.
With this development, SP Goyal was the ultimate choice of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s key bureaucratic aide in the run-up to the upcoming panchayat and assembly elections.
Mr Goyal, a 1989-batch IAS officer and a batch topper, has been serving as Additional Chief Secretary to the CM for the past eight years, building a reputation as one of Yogi’s most trusted and influential officers.
He has earned a reputation in both the state and central governments as a fearless and upright officer. Colleagues describe him as someone who refuses to bow to political or bureaucratic pressure and is known for returning files that lack justification or legal clarity.
Mr lGoyal’s close ties with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and top bureaucrats in key ministries, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, have made him a vital link between the state and the Centre. These connections have often ensured swift approvals for the state’s proposals at the central level.
For the past eight years, Goyal has had a strong grip on Uttar Pradesh’s bureaucracy, particularly on the “Pancham Tal” (the state secretariat’s top floor, symbolizing power). Most IAS, IPS, and IFS postings have borne his imprint. His close rapport with ministers and legislators has helped manage both administrative and political challenges effectively.
He also played a pivotal role in bringing the long-stalled Jewar Airport project to life. From land acquisition and design planning to forming a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and facilitating global tenders, Goyal was instrumental in executing the project. During his tenure, the number of international airports in Uttar Pradesh increased from two to four, Lucknow, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Kushinagar, with several more regional airports nearing completion.
While Goyal’s elevation is being seen as a continuation of administrative continuity, Manoj Singh’s denial of extension has sparked questions within political and bureaucratic circles. Observers note that other close aides of the CM, such as Principal Secretary Amit Singh and Moradabad Commissioner Aanjaneya Kumar Singh, have received multiple extensions. The denial of an extension to the Chief Secretary, despite CM Yogi’s request, is being viewed as a significant message from the Centre.
Former Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra was granted service extension thrice — in December 2021, December 2022, and again in December 2023 — raising further questions on the Centre’s decision-making process regarding Singh.