Sanjay Jaju Named New Chief Secretary of Telangana Following Central Repatriation

Senior IAS officer Sanjay Jaju is set to become the next Chief Secretary of Telangana, as confirmed by official sources on Tuesday. Jaju is scheduled to officially assume his new responsibilities on June 30, taking over the role immediately following the retirement of the current incumbent, K. Ramakrishna Rao, who is concluding his extended tenure.

A distinguished member of the 1992 batch IAS cadre, Sanjay Jaju was formally relieved from his responsibilities under Central deputation and repatriated to his home cadre in Telangana earlier this week. This pivotal administrative move occurred just one week before the conclusion of K. Ramakrishna Rao's term, effectively finalizing the transition for the state's most senior bureaucratic position.

Strategic Leadership for Telangana

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Central government issued an official notification stating that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet had sanctioned the repatriation of Sanjay Jaju following a specific request from the Government of Telangana. Jaju brings extensive administrative experience, having served nearly 13 years in various high-level capacities within the Central government, most notably as the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and more recently, as Secretary of the Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER).

Observers note that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy strongly favored Jaju for the Chief Secretary of Telangana role, primarily due to his profound familiarity with Union-level operations. The state administration is currently prioritizing seamless coordination with various Union ministries to expedite essential approvals and secure funding for several flagship development initiatives. These include ambitious projects such as the Hyderabad Metro Rail expansion, the Musi River rejuvenation, various new airport developments, the Regional Ring Road, advanced bullet train corridors, and the vision for Bharat Future City.

Transition of Power

While other senior bureaucrats like Jayesh Ranjan and Vikas Raj were reportedly considered for this top administrative post, the state leadership ultimately prioritized Jaju's long-standing professional network within the Central government. He is expected to serve in this capacity until his scheduled retirement in March 2028. This transition marks the conclusion of K. Ramakrishna Rao’s notable term, which saw him receive an unprecedented 10-month extension beyond his original retirement date of August 2025, granted in two distinct phases to ensure administrative continuity in the state.