On 31st January 2022, the State Government has appointed Smt Usha Sharma as the new Chief Secretary of Rajasthan. She was serving as the Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, Government of India and returned to Rajasthan, her parent cadre, following the state government’s request to Center.
She is the second woman to hold the post, Smt Kushal Singh was the first woman Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, who served in that position from February 2009 to October 2009.
Additionally, Shir Niranjan Arya, the outgoing chief secretary has been appointed as an advisor to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.(reference order)
On 31st January 2022, the state’s department of personnel (DoP) issued the order appointing 1985 batch IAS officer Usha Sharma as the new chief secretary of Rajasthan. The IAS officer has also been given additional charge of Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Ltd, Udaipur. She will hold this charge till further orders. The DoP order also stated that salary, allowances and terms of service of Arya will be issued separately after the consent of the finance department.
Smt Sharma is the sister-in-law of Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha Speaker CP Joshi. She will retire from service in June, 2023.
Smt Sharma held the posts of director general, Archaeological Survey of India; additional secretary, department of administrative reforms and public grievances, ministry of personnel; additional director general (tourism), ministry of tourism; principal secretary and commissioner, Rajasthan tourism department.
