Patna: Speculation over Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s possible move to the Rajya Sabha has triggered intense discussions within Bihar’s administrative circles, with several senior IAS officers reportedly exploring central deputation or transfers to other states amid expectations of a political transition.
According to administrative sources, Kumar, who has served as Bihar’s chief minister for nearly two decades, may step down in the coming days if he moves to the Rajya Sabha. Even before any formal announcement, sections of the state’s IAS lobby have begun recalculating their career strategies.
Several officers who have worked closely with Kumar over the years are said to be exploring opportunities for deputation to the central government in New Delhi. Some have already started approaching the Centre in an attempt to secure positions outside the state cadre, while others are waiting to see who will be appointed as the next chief minister.
Officers eyeing central deputation
Among those believed to be interested in central deputation is Dr B Rajendra, a 1995-batch IAS officer currently serving as Special Secretary in the General Administration Department. He also holds charge of the Education Department and has been posted in the General Administration Department since March 28, 2022. Rajendra additionally serves as Director General of the Bihar Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (BIPARD), Secretary of the Bihar Administrative Reforms Mission Society and Secretary of the Public Grievance Department. Originally from Telangana, he was recently empanelled at the Secretary level by the central government, making him eligible for senior positions in Delhi.
Dr Gopal Singh, a 2003-batch Indian Forest Service officer, has long served as Officer on Special Duty to the chief minister. He also holds responsibilities as Regional Chief Conservator of Forests and Conservator of Forests. He has been serving in this role since November 26, 2021. The Bihar government had granted him permission last year to serve under the central government.
Dr Safina N, a 1997-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre, is currently the Divisional Commissioner of the Magadh Division. She also holds the additional charge of Additional Director General at BIPARD in Gaya. A PhD holder in agriculture and originally from Kerala, she has been serving as Magadh Commissioner since April 13, 2025.
Another officer reportedly exploring central deputation is Gopal Meena, a 2007-batch IAS officer currently serving as Secretary in the Revenue and Land Reforms Department. He has held this position since May 31, 2025, and also carries the additional charge of Inquiry Commissioner in the General Administration Department. Meena is originally from Rajasthan and holds a master’s degree in computer science.
Dr Pratima S Verma, a 2002-batch IAS officer, is presently Secretary of the Science, Technology and Technical Education Department. She has also been posted at the Bihar government’s Delhi residence. Originally from Karnataka, Verma holds an MBBS degree and has been serving in her current role since August 31, 2024.
Rules governing central deputation
As per the existing rules, a maximum of 70 IAS officers from the Bihar cadre can be posted on deputation to the central government at any given time. Officials from the General Administration Department said that around 30 officers from the Bihar cadre are currently serving in Delhi.
Typically, IAS officers posted to the Centre serve a tenure of five years before returning to their parent cadre. However, some officers manage to extend their stay in Delhi through coordination with the central government.
Officers generally move to central deputation after reaching the level of deputy secretary or equivalent. If they do not opt for deputation at that stage, securing a posting in Delhi later often requires strong administrative or political backing. Once officers are empanelled at the secretary level, their chances of holding senior positions at the Centre increase significantly.
Officers returning to Bihar
At the same time, some officers currently serving in Delhi are preparing to return to Bihar. Among them is R Laxman, a 2004-batch IAS officer who was posted in the Prime Minister’s Office. Laxman had proceeded on a two-month leave on February 2, 2026, and is expected to return to Bihar after completing his leave period.
His return comes at a time when administrative reshuffling is being widely anticipated in the state, particularly if there is a change in political leadership.
