Mumbai: Will Maharashtra get a new Chief Secretary or will incumbent Rajesh Aggarwal continue in the post? This is the question doing the rounds in bureaucratic circles as the tenure of the current Chief Secretary approaches its end.
According to reports, the Maharashtra government is learnt to have recommended a proposal to the Centre seeking a six-month extension in service for Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal (IAS:1989:MH), who is scheduled to retire on November 30, 2026.
Aggarwal took charge as Maharashtra Chief Secretary in November 2025. His proposed continuation is understood to be under consideration in view of administrative stability and continuity in governance.
The final decision on the proposed extension rests with the Central Government.
If Rajesh Aggarwal is granted an extension, he will continue as Chief Secretary. However, if he retires as scheduled on November 30, 2026, Manisha Mhaiskar (IAS:1992:MH) could emerge as the frontrunner to succeed him. She would become the senior-most serving IAS officer in the Maharashtra cadre and is already handling the important portfolio of Additional Chief Secretary (Home). Her seniority and current assignment place her in a strong position in the race for the top bureaucratic post in the state.
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