Sanjay Jaju appointed Telangana Chief Secretary, succeeds K. Ramakrishna Rao
Synopsis
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy has picked 1992-batch IAS officer Sanjay Jaju as the state's new Chief Secretary — bypassing two batchmates — reportedly because Jaju's tenure runs through February 2029, giving the government a steady hand at the top through the next assembly elections.
Key Takeaways
Sanjay Jaju , a 1992-batch IAS officer , has been appointed Chief Secretary of Telangana via a Government Order dated 26 June .
Ramakrishna Rao , who retires on 30 June ; Rao will continue as Advisor and Ex-Officio Special Chief Secretary to the CM.
Jaju was repatriated from the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region just two days before his appointment.
He has been given Full Additional Charge (FAC) of Industries, ITE&C, and the SPEED initiative under the CMO.
CM Revanth Reddy reportedly preferred Jaju over batchmates Jayesh Ranjan and Vikas Raj due to his longer tenure, extending to February 2029 .
Jaju's 15-year Central government stint included roles in Defence Production, Information and Broadcasting, and NHIDCL digital services.
Senior IAS officer Sanjay Jaju has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Telangana, with a formal Government Order issued on Friday, 26 June by the Chief Minister Revanth Reddy-led state administration. Jaju will take charge upon the retirement of incumbent Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao on 30 June.
Who Is Sanjay Jaju
A 1992-batch IAS officer, Jaju brings over three decades of administrative experience spanning both Central and state government roles. He most recently served as Secretary in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region before the Centre approved his repatriation to Telangana just two days prior to his appointment.
His Central government career spanned 15 years, during which he is credited with conceiving and establishing the online services platform of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). He also served as Additional Secretary in the Defence Production wing and as Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
In undivided Andhra Pradesh, Jaju served as Commissioner of the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) and as Secretary in the IT Department.
Additional Charge Portfolios
Alongside the Chief Secretary role, the government has assigned Jaju several departments under Full Additional Charge (FAC). These include Special Chief Secretary to Government for the Industries and Commerce and ITE&C Departments, as well as Special Chief Secretary and CEO of the Industry and Investment Cell in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) and the Smart Proactive Efficient and Effective Delivery (SPEED) initiative.
Why Revanth Reddy Chose Jaju
Chief Minister Reddy reportedly preferred Jaju over two other officers of the same 1992 batch — Jayesh Ranjan and Vikas Raj — on strategic grounds. Both Ranjan and Raj are due to retire in 2027 and 2028 respectively, whereas Jaju's retirement is not until the end of February 2029. This continuity is seen as critical, given that the next Telangana assembly elections are likely towards the end of 2028.
Notably, Jaju was not associated with the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government — a factor that reportedly weighed in his favour with the Chief Minister.
Other Administrative Changes
In a parallel development, outgoing Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao has been appointed as Advisor and Ex-Officio Special Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister upon his superannuation on 30 June.
The government also relieved Dr. C. Suvarna, IFS (1991 batch), Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, from service with effect from 30 June. Vinay Kumar, IFS (1992 batch), Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, has been placed in full additional charge of the post of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. Several other IAS officers were also transferred as part of the reshuffle.
With Jaju now at the helm, the Telangana administration is expected to prioritise industrial investment and digital governance — areas where his track record is strongest — as the state heads into a politically consequential period.
Point of View
The CM secures bureaucratic continuity through what will be a high-stakes election cycle. The deliberate bypass of two senior batchmates — both closer to retirement — signals that the Congress-led government is already in campaign mode. Jaju's clean slate with the previous BRS administration also matters: it insulates the CM from accusations of inheriting his predecessor's bureaucratic loyalties. The real question is whether Jaju's Central government expertise in digital infrastructure translates into delivery on Telangana's ambitious industrial and tech investment agenda.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sanjay Jaju, the new Chief Secretary of Telangana?
Sanjay Jaju is a 1992-batch IAS officer who was serving as Secretary in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region before his repatriation to Telangana. He previously served as Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad and Secretary in the IT Department in undivided Andhra Pradesh, and has a 15-year Central government career spanning Defence Production, Information and Broadcasting, and NHIDCL.
Why did CM Revanth Reddy choose Sanjay Jaju over other senior IAS officers?
Revanth Reddy reportedly preferred Jaju because his retirement is not until February 2029, ensuring continuity through the next Telangana assembly elections expected in late 2028. Batchmates Jayesh Ranjan and Vikas Raj retire earlier, in 2027 and 2028 respectively. Jaju's non-association with the previous BRS government was also cited as a factor.
When does Sanjay Jaju take charge as Chief Secretary?
Jaju effectively takes charge from 30 June 2025, the date on which incumbent Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao retires from service.
What happens to outgoing Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao?
K. Ramakrishna Rao has been appointed as Advisor and Ex-Officio Special Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy upon his superannuation on 30 June, keeping him in an advisory capacity within the CMO.
What additional portfolios will Sanjay Jaju hold?
In addition to the Chief Secretary role, Jaju has been given Full Additional Charge of Special Chief Secretary for Industries and Commerce and ITE&C Departments, as well as Special Chief Secretary and CEO of the Industry and Investment Cell in the CMO and the SPEED initiative.
