Gujarat CMO Gets New Secretary Vikrant Pandey, Avantika Singh Aulakh Gets New Role

Typically, the CMO functions with a team of three IAS officers. However, the post had been lying vacant since the end of January after Pankaj Joshi, then Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, was appointed as Chief Secretary. Now, with the appointment of Vikrant Pandey, a 2005 batch IAS officer from the Gujarat cadre, earlier concerns of bottlenecks in administrative processes are expected to ease. He is currently serving as the Resident Commissioner of Gujarat in New Delhi on deputation.

Avantika Singh Aulakh, a 2003 batch IAS officer, has now taken on the responsibilities as Additional Principal Secretary. She has played a key role in the Chief Minister’s secretariat, and her appellation is set to streamline top-level governance. M.K. Das will continue to serve as the Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister.

With the new appointments, the clearance process of files coming from various government departments is expected to speed up. Vikrant Pandey has previously served in various capacities across Gujarat and will now take on a new role within the state's administrative machinery.