Sanjay Jaju Appointed Telangana Chief Secretary

The government also entrusted Jaju, a 1992-batch IAS officer, with full additional charge as special chief secretary for industries and commerce and information technology, chief executive officer of the Industry & Investment Cell in the Chief Minister's Office, and SPEED (Smart Proactive, Efficient and Effective Delivery), the posts previously held by Ramakrishna Rao. Janu is expected to retire in February 2029.
Jaju, who was relieved from Central deputation and repatriated to the Telangana cadre on Tuesday, returns to the state after nearly 13 years. He was most recently serving as secretary, ministry of development of northeastern region (DoNER). Jaju has previously served as secretary in the ministry of information and broadcasting, additional secretary in the department of defence production, and held senior positions in the ministry of road transport and highways, where he is credited with conceiving and introducing online services in the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
Before proceeding on Central deputation in 2014, Jaju held several key positions in the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh, including as collector of East Godavari district, commissioner of the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad, IT secretary and vice-chairman of the Infrastructure Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (INCAP). He played a pioneering role in designing and implementing Mee Seva, the citizen-centric portal that transformed delivery of government services in the undivided state.
Official sources said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy preferred Jaju for the state's top bureaucratic post because of his extensive administrative experience in the state and Central governments, his long-standing association with Union ministries and his ability to facilitate faster clearances for Telangana's flagship projects.

The government is pursuing Central approvals and financial assistance for several major initiatives, including Hyderabad Metro Rail expansion, the Musi river rejuvenation project, new airports, the Regional Ring Road, Regional Ring Rail, proposed bullet train corridors and Bharat Future City. Jaju's familiarity with the functioning of the Union government is expected to strengthen coordination with New Delhi for these projects.
Jaju’s appointment also assumes political significance as the Chief Minister has been focusing on implementation of the Congress government's welfare programmes and development agenda ahead of the Assembly elections in December 2028. Jaju's repatriation to the Telangana cadre is widely seen as part of that strategy.
Though senior IAS officers Jayesh Ranjan and Vikas Raj, both Jaju's batchmates from the 1992 cadre, were in contention, Revanth Reddy opted for Jaju primarily because he has had no association with the previous BRS government and because of the length of his remaining service. While Ranjan is due to retire in September 2027 and Vikas Raj in February 2028, Jaju will remain in service until February 2029, ensuring continuity in the administration through the crucial period leading up to and immediately after the next Assembly elections.
Officials said appointing either Ranjan or Raj would have required another change of Chief Secretary just months before the elections, forcing the government to identify a successor and allowing little time for the new incumbent to settle into the state's top administrative position during a politically critical period. Seeking Jaju's repatriation was therefore considered the most suitable option to ensure stability and continuity in governance.
Known as a non-controversial officer with a reputation for delivering administrative reforms, Jaju's more than a decade-long experience in the Union government is also expected to help Telangana secure quicker approvals and funding from Central ministries whenever required.
The appointment marks the end of Ramakrishna Rao's tenure as Chief Secretary. Originally scheduled to retire in August 2025, Ramakrishna Rao received an unprecedented 10-month extension from the state government in two phases — first for seven months until March 2026 and later for another three months until June 30, 2026. Upon retirement, he will continue to serve the state government as adviser and ex-officio special chief secretary to the Chief Minister.