Imphal, July 17, 2025: In a key administrative reshuffle aimed at facilitating peace and rehabilitation in ethnic violence-hit Manipur, the Ministry of Home Affairs has appointed Puneet Kumar Goel, a 1991-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, as the new Chief Secretary of Manipur.
Goel replaces Prashant Kumar Singh of the 1993 Manipur cadre, who has now been appointed Secretary of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, with Goel’s inter-cadre deputation granted through a curtailment of his central tenure.
Goel has previously served in various capacities including Chief Secretary of Goa, Commissioner (Transport) of South Delhi Municipal Corporation, and held other significant roles in urban and administrative development.
ALSO READ: Manipur Police Recover 86 Weapons, Nearly 1,000 Rounds of Ammunition in Major Crackdown
This change in leadership comes amid intensified efforts by both central and state agencies to restore normalcy in Manipur following the ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023, which claimed at least 260 lives and displaced nearly 60,000 people, particularly among the Meitei and Kuki-Hmar-Zomi communities.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 2025, following the resignation of former Chief Minister N Biren Singh, days after the Supreme Court sought forensic analysis of leaked audio tapes allegedly implicating him in stoking violence.
