Who is the New Chief Secretary of Telangana?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- K. Ramakrishna Rao appointed as Chief Secretary of Telangana.
- Rao previously served as Special Chief Secretary for Finance.
- He takes over from A. Santhi Kumar, who is retiring soon.
- Rao is recognized for his financial expertise.
- This marks a new chapter under the Congress government.
Hyderabad, April 27 (NationPress) - The government of Telangana has officially appointed K. Ramakrishna Rao as the new Chief Secretary of the state.
Rao, an officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) from the 1991 batch, has held the position of Special Chief Secretary for Finance.
He takes over from A. Santhi Kumar, who is set to retire upon reaching the age limit for service on April 30.
The order for Rao's appointment was issued by M. Raghunandan Rao, the Secretary for Political Affairs, on Sunday.
Additionally, the government has assigned him the full additional responsibilities of the Special Chief Secretary for the Finance Department until further notice.
K. Ramakrishna Rao is notable for being the first Chief Secretary appointed by the Congress administration since it took office in November 2023.
Renowned for his financial acumen, Rao was considered an ideal candidate for this esteemed role, particularly given the economic challenges currently facing the state.
However, it is important to note that Rao has only a few months remaining in his tenure, as he is expected to retire in August.
In January 2023, A. Santhi Kumari was named Chief Secretary following the reassignment of Somesh Kumar to Andhra Pradesh, as mandated by the Telangana High Court.
Santhi Kumari, an IAS officer from the 1989 batch, made history as the first female Chief Secretary of Telangana.
Before her elevation to Chief Secretary, she was serving as the Special Chief Secretary for the Forest Department.
Despite rumors of a possible extension for Santhi Kumar, the Revanth Reddy administration opted against prolonging her service.
Recently, the government mandated all departments to cease the services of officers on extensions, unless deemed essential.
Among the other senior IAS officers vying for the Chief Secretary role were Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary for Information Technology, and Vikas Raj, Special Chief Secretary for Roads & Buildings.