Maharashtra’s bureaucracy braces for change with the impending retirement of Dr. Iqbal Singh Chahal, a cornerstone of state administration. Serving as Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Chahal bows out on January 31, 2026, after a service marked by dedication and innovation.
The transition plan elevates Manisha Patankar-Mhaishkar from her Public Works post to head the Home Department. Complementing this, Ashwini Bhide relinquishes her CM Additional Chief Secretary role temporarily to manage Mining duties.
Joint Secretary Subhash Umranikar’s order, dated Friday, bids adieu to Chahal with best wishes and loops in top brass from the Chief Minister’s and Deputy Chief Minister’s offices alongside sectoral leaders.
A 1989 IAS stalwart, Chahal’s fame peaked as BMC Commissioner amid the pandemic, where his ‘Mumbai Model’ revolutionized containment strategies through data-driven interventions and public-private partnerships.
His future role as Chairman, Mumbai Police Housing Township Project—with equivalent minister status—kicks off February 1, 2026, spanning five years, channeling his skills into police welfare housing.
Manisha Patankar-Mhaishkar (1992 batch) arrives with accolades from transformative Public Works initiatives, and Ashwini Bhide (1995 batch) carries forward her legacy from spearheading Mumbai Metro’s Aqua Line 3.
Amidst the state’s bustling growth agenda, this reshuffle promises unwavering leadership continuity, blending experience with new vigor across vital sectors.