Senior bureaucrat Rajeev Singh Thakur is tipped to be the new Chief Secretary of conflict-ridden Manipur, officials said on Saturday (August 29, 2026).Mr Thakur, a 1995 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Rajasthan cadre, currently works at Niti Aayog.The Centre on Friday (August 29, 2026) approved his inter-cadre deputation from Rajasthan to the Manipur cadre up to June 30, 2029, the date of his superannuation, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said.Mr. Thakur is likely to succeed Puneet Kumar Goyal, who will superannuate on August 31.At least 260 people have been killed and over 58,800 others rendered homeless since May 2023 due to ethnic violence in Manipur between the valley-based Meiteis and the Kukis who live in the hill districts. Published - August 29, 2026 05:09 pm IST