Chandigarh: Diprava Lakra, a 2005 batch IAS officer from the Punjab cadre, has been appointed as the new finance secretary for the Union Territory. The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet approved the Ministry of Home Affairs' proposal for Lakra’s appointment on 14 October.

Prior to this role, Lakra held several key positions, including finance secretary in Punjab, deputy commissioner in Bathinda, and commissioner of the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation.

The Punjab government had recommended three candidates for the finance secretary position: Basant Garg, Diprava Lakra, and Daljit Singh Mangat, all from the 2005 batch.

The post became vacant on 18 June after Vijay Namdeorao Zade, a 2002 batch IAS officer from Punjab, completed his tenure and was relieved. Zade had joined the UT administration in May 2021 for a three-year term, which was extended by one month in May 2024 due to the Lok Sabha elections, as he also served as the chief electoral officer of Chandigarh.

BI Bureau