PATNA, Sept. 11 -- In a routine administrative reshuffle, the Bihar state government has shifted Narmdeshwar Lal (1998 batch) as the new principal secretary of the sugarcane industry department, replacing the incumbent. Lal, who was previously serving as principal secretary in the minor irrigation department, will continue to hold the additional charge of inquiry commissioner in the general administration department (GAD). This move is part of a broader transfer order affecting six Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, aimed at optimizing departmental efficiencies ahead of the anticipated Bihar assembly elections. The transfers, notified by the GAD on Wednesday, involve reallocations across key sectors including water resources, health, cooperatives and prohibition enforcement. Officials indicate that these changes are procedural and not linked to any major policy shifts, though they occur amid the state's heightened pre-poll preparations. B. Kartikey Dhanji (2008 batch), secretary, sugarcane industries department, has been shifted to the minor irrigation department. Likewise, Chhiring Y Bhutia, who was waiting for the posting, has been asked to join as additional secretary, health department. Yashpal Meena (2014 batch), currently posted in the water resources department has been moved to the health department as additional secretary. Rajnish Kumar Singh has been posted as registrar, cooperative societies, replacing Anshul Agarwal, who has been made the inspector general (IG) of registration cum excise commissioner, excise prohibition department. These transfers reflect the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government's pattern of periodic bureaucratic adjustments to ensure smooth governance....