With the departure of Rajasthan Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant (IAS:1991:RJ) to the Central Government as Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, bureaucratic circles in Rajasthan and Delhi are abuzz with speculation over his successor.
Whispers in the Rajasthan bureaucratic circle suggest that this time, the state’s top bureaucratic post may go to an officer currently serving in Rajasthan. According to this view, three names are doing the rounds: Abhay Kumar (IAS:1992:RJ), Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources Department and State Water Resources Planning Department; Shikhar Agarwal (IAS:1993:RJ), Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister; and Akhil Arora (IAS:1993:RJ), Additional Chief Secretary, PHED.
Notably, Abhay Kumar had been given additional charge of Chief Secretary from June 29 to July 7, 2025, when incumbent CS Sudhansh Pant was on an official visit to the United Kingdom. His name is, therefore, being prominently discussed for the top post.
However, given the Centre’s penchant for surprises, a twist cannot be ruled out if it decides — in consultation with the state government — to send a senior Rajasthan-cadre officer currently on central deputation to head the state bureaucracy. In that case, the possible contenders could be V Srinivas (IAS:1989:RJ), Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances and Department of Pensions & Pensioners’ Welfare; Rajat Kumar Mishra (IAS:1992:RJ), Secretary, Department of Fertilizers; and Tanmay Kumar (IAS:1993:RJ), Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
Among these central deputation officers, Tanmay Kumar is said to be leading the race should the Centre decide to pick someone from Delhi.
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