Senior IAS Officer Ashish Kundra Assumes Charge as Chief Secretary of Ladakh

Leh/Jammu, Jan 1: Senior IAS officer Ashish Kundra on Thursday took charge as the Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, reaffirming his commitment to effective governance, transparent administration and inclusive development, officials said.

A 1996-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, Kundra succeeded Pawan Kotwal, who retired from service on Wednesday, according to an official statement.

After assuming office, Kundra emphasised strengthening institutional mechanisms, improving service delivery and ensuring the timely implementation of developmental programmes across the Union Territory. He said addressing the aspirations of the people of Ladakh would remain a top priority for the administration.

He also stressed the importance of an accessible administration that reaches all parts of Ladakh, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas.”

Highlighting the need to meet the economic aspirations of the youth, Kundra said efforts would be made to unlock Ladakh’s economic potential. “Ladakh has a rich civilisational history and has always been a symbol of peace. This heritage must be preserved,” he said.

The Chief Secretary further underlined that development in Ladakh must be sustainable, keeping in view the region’s fragile ecology and the challenges posed by climate change. He cautioned against reckless construction in the name of development.

Senior administrative officials welcomed Kundra and expressed confidence that his extensive administrative experience would further strengthen governance and accelerate development in the Union Territory.

Earlier, a ceremonial guard of honour was accorded to Kundra at the UT Secretariat in Leh following his assumption of charge.