Raju inducted into CMO, Qasim transferred
Hyderabad:Special chief secretary (finance) K. Ramakrishna Rao, a 1991-batch IAS officer, assumed charge as the new Chief Secretary of Telangana on Wednesday. He succeeded A. Santhi Kumari, who retired on Wednesday after serving for two years and three months since her appointment on January 11, 2023 during the previous BRS regime.
Ramakrishna Rao, known for his expertise in public finance management, brings extensive administrative experience to the role. During his decade-long tenure as finance secretary, he steered the preparation of 14 state budgets, including two vote-on-account budgets. As the new Chief Secretary, Rao will also continue to hold full additional charge as special chief secretary (finance).
He becomes the seventh Chief Secretary of Telangana since the state’s formation on June 2, 2014. Immediately after taking charge, Rao attended a video conference convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from his chambers at the Secretariat. The conference involved Chief Secretaries of all states and focused on reviewing the implementation of central government schemes across the country.
In related developments, the state government announced a series of key administrative appointments on Wednesday. Retired IAS officer K.S. Sreenivasa Raju has been appointed principal secretary to the Chief Minister. Raju is currently serving as Advisor to the state government on infrastructure and projects.
IPS officer Shahnawaz Qasim, who was serving as secretary to the Chief Minister, has been transferred and appointed as Director General of the Drugs Control Administration. He will also hold full additional charge as director, Prohibition and Excise, replacing V.B. Kamalasan Reddy, who retired on Wednesday.
Following his retirement, Kamalasan Reddy was appointed Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Intelligence Security Wing of the Intelligence Department, Telangana, for a period of two years. He has also been given full additional charge as Director of the Telangana Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), Hyderabad. In his capacity as Director, ICCC, he will report to the Chief Secretary through the Special Chief Secretary, Home Department.
