Centre Extends Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao’s Tenure Till March 2026
According to officials, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had appealed to the Centre for the Rao’s continuation on July 30, citing his administrative experience and ability to steer the state through crucial policy and governance matters.
Hyderabad: The Centre has approved the extension of Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao’s tenure by seven months, until March 2026. Rao, who assumed charge on April 30, was originally scheduled to retire on August 30. In a departure from the usual practice, the Centre sanctioned a seven-month extension at one stretch; typically, extensions are for three or six months.
According to officials, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had appealed to the Centre for the Rao’s continuation on July 30, citing his administrative experience and ability to steer the state through crucial policy and governance matters.
Notably, in the 10-year history of Telangana, no Chief Secretary has been given an extension in service, barring Rajiv Sharma, the first CS of the newly-formed state in 2014. Sharma was granted a six-month extension, but in two separate phases of three months each. In contrast, Rao’s case is unprecedented, with the Centre approving seven months in a single stretch.
The decision has fuelled speculation over the Chief Minister’s growing clout with the Union government. Observers suggest that Rao’s extension reflects Revanth Reddy’s persuasive influence at the Centre.
Ramakrishna Rao, a 1988-batch IAS officer, is regarded as an efficient and non-controversial bureaucrat. His extended tenure ensures continuity in administration, particularly as the Congress government is pushing forward key policy reforms and development projects. Rao holds the record of drafting 14 state Budgets as secretary of finance department since 2015.
