Kolkata, 24 July (H.S.) : The Centre has approved a six-month extension in service for West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal, allowing him to continue in office beyond his scheduled retirement on July 31, 2026.

According to an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the extension will come into effect from August 1, 2026, and remain valid until January 31, 2027. The West Bengal government had sent the proposal to the Centre on July 15, seeking the continuation of Agarwal, who assumed charge as the state's Chief Secretary on May 11 this year.

A senior state government official said the extension would ensure administrative stability at a time when several key policy decisions and development programmes are underway. The official noted that Agarwal is overseeing multiple important government initiatives, and his continued tenure would help maintain continuity in governance and facilitate their smooth implementation.

A 1990-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre, Agarwal was due to retire at the end of this month. An engineering graduate, he began his administrative career as Additional District Magistrate in the then Burdwan district and has since served in several key positions in the state government.

Over a career spanning more than three decades, Agarwal has held the posts of Principal Secretary in departments including Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Food and Supplies, and Fire and Emergency Services. He also served as the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, where he supervised the conduct of elections in the state.

Since taking over as the state's top bureaucrat in May, Agarwal has played a key role in coordinating inter-departmental governance, implementing flagship welfare schemes, and driving administrative reforms across the state. Officials believe the extension will help sustain the momentum of these initiatives and ensure seamless governance in the coming months.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh