Overview
- The Telangana government issued a Government Order on Friday, June 26, 2026, naming 1992‑batch IAS officer Sanjay Jaju as Chief Secretary, with him set to succeed K. Ramakrishna Rao when Rao retires on June 30.
- Jaju returns from central deputation after serving as Secretary in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and has held senior roles at the Centre including in defence production and information and broadcasting.
- The June 26 orders also designate the outgoing chief secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao as Advisor and Ex‑Officio Special Chief Secretary to the chief minister, a practice that has drawn criticism and a pending public interest litigation over costs and constitutional questions.
- A wider IAS reshuffle was implemented on the same day, including N. Sridhar being posted as Principal Secretary to the chief minister and IFS officer Vinay Kumar given full additional charge as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests ahead of C. Suvarna’s superannuation.
- Officials say the choices aim to keep a politically neutral, New Delhi‑connected administrator in place through the likely 2028 election cycle while raising scrutiny about the fiscal and administrative effects of post‑retirement advisory appointments.