THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM By Abul Hasan|

The 1991 batch of the Indian Administrative Service has emerged as a defining force in India’s administrative leadership, with a remarkable number of its officers occupying Chief Secretary positions across states and Union Territories. In an exclusive analysis by THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA, this feature maps how the 1991 cohort leads the seniority ladder, followed by officers from earlier and subsequent batches who collectively form the backbone of India’s governance framework.

1991 Batch: Leading from the Front

Dr. Puneet Kumar Goel – Manipur
A calm strategist and seasoned administrator, Dr. Goel brings balance to governance in a sensitive border state. Known for consensus-building and institutional strengthening, his leadership focuses on development delivery while maintaining administrative stability in a complex socio-political environment.

Dr. A. Jayathilak – Kerala
An officer with deep experience in finance and public systems, Dr. Jayathilak is credited with strengthening Kerala’s fiscal management. His analytical approach and reform-oriented mindset support evidence-based policymaking and sustainable development in a socially advanced state.

Pratyaya Amrit – Bihar
Recognised for his sharp administrative acumen, Pratyaya Amrit focuses on governance reforms and infrastructure push. His career reflects strong centre–state coordination experience, making him a key driver of administrative efficiency and development momentum in Bihar.

N. Muruganandam – Tamil Nadu
A people-centric administrator, Muruganandam is known for innovation in social sector governance. With experience across finance, rural development, and welfare delivery, he prioritises inclusive growth while ensuring administrative responsiveness in one of India’s most industrialised states.

Manish Gupta – Arunachal Pradesh
Serving in a strategically critical frontier state, Manish Gupta combines field experience with policy clarity. His leadership emphasises infrastructure expansion, connectivity, and governance outreach in difficult terrain while maintaining administrative continuity.

Manoj Pant – West Bengal
An officer with a strong grasp of economic and industrial administration, Manoj Pant plays a pivotal role in balancing governance priorities in a politically dynamic state. His focus remains on administrative coordination and development-oriented governance.

Sentiyanger Imchen – Nagaland
With decades of experience in the Northeast, Imchen brings cultural sensitivity and administrative depth. His tenure focuses on peace, development, and institutional strengthening in a state marked by unique social and political challenges.

K. Ramakrishna Rao – Telangana
A widely respected administrator, Rao is known for his firm yet pragmatic approach. His leadership centres on infrastructure growth, digital governance, and coordination across departments in one of India’s youngest states.

1989 Batch

Anurag Jain – Madhya Pradesh
Known for administrative precision, Jain has handled complex portfolios across centre and state. His leadership focuses on industrial policy, investment promotion, and strengthening governance delivery mechanisms.

V. Srinivas – Rajasthan
An experienced policymaker, Srinivas brings centre-level exposure to state administration. His tenure emphasises administrative reforms, digital governance, and efficient service delivery across Rajasthan’s diverse regions.

Shashi Prakash Goyal – Uttar Pradesh
Serving India’s most populous state, Goyal is valued for coordination and crisis management skills. His leadership supports large-scale governance execution across law, development, and public service systems.

Dr. Shalini Rajneesh – Karnataka
A senior woman officer with rich administrative experience, Dr. Rajneesh focuses on institutional governance and public service delivery. Her leadership style blends empathy with procedural strength.

Rajesh Aggarwal – Maharashtra
An officer with strong financial and urban governance background, Aggarwal oversees administration in India’s economic powerhouse, focusing on infrastructure, fiscal stability, and administrative coordination.

Atal Dulloo – Jammu & Kashmir
With deep experience in sensitive regions, Dulloo brings stability and institutional focus to governance in Jammu & Kashmir, emphasising development administration and centre–UT coordination.

1990 Batch

Manoj Ahuja – Odisha
An administrator with strong experience in rural development and public finance, Ahuja is known for outcome-oriented governance. His leadership supports industrial growth while ensuring welfare delivery in a state balancing development with social inclusion.

Manoj Kumar Das – Gujarat
With extensive experience in finance and disaster management, Das brings administrative maturity to Gujarat’s governance framework. His focus lies in fiscal discipline, institutional efficiency, and long-term development planning.

Anurag Rastogi – Haryana
A reform-driven officer, Rastogi is recognised for his work in finance and personnel management. As Chief Secretary, he emphasises transparency, administrative streamlining, and policy execution in a rapidly urbanising state.

1988 Batch

Sanjay Gupta – Himachal Pradesh
A senior-most officer among the serving Chief Secretaries, Gupta is known for steady

1992 Batch

K. Vijayanand – Andhra Pradesh
An administrator with strong disaster management and revenue experience, Vijayanand focuses on development delivery and administrative efficiency in a reform-driven state.

K. A. P. Sinha – Punjab
Known for his firm grasp on law, order, and administration, Sinha brings structured governance and policy clarity to Punjab’s administrative machinery.

Rajeev Verma – Delhi
Handling the complex governance of the national capital, Verma balances centre–UT coordination with urban administration and public service delivery.

Anand Bardhan – Uttarakhand
With experience in infrastructure and disaster management, Bardhan leads governance in a Himalayan state with a focus on resilience and sustainable development.

1993 Batch

Avinash Kumar – Jharkhand
A development-focused administrator, Kumar emphasises tribal welfare, infrastructure expansion, and governance reforms in a resource-rich state.

Khilli Ram Meena – Mizoram
Bringing experience in rural and social sectors, Meena focuses on inclusive governance and administrative strengthening in the Northeast.

Dr. Ravi Kota – Assam
An officer with strong crisis-management experience, Kota leads Assam’s administration with focus on flood management, development planning, and coordination.

1994 Batch

Vikas Sheel – Chhattisgarh
Known for his calm administrative style, Sheel prioritises development delivery, mining governance, and welfare administration.

Dr. Pawan Kotwal – Ladakh (Advisor)
A seasoned administrator, Dr. Kotwal supports governance in a strategically vital UT, focusing on institutional setup and policy coordination.

Dr. Sharat Chauhan – Puducherry
With wide administrative exposure, Chauhan manages governance in a small but complex UT, balancing centre–UT dynamics.

1995 Batch

Shakeel Ahammed – Meghalaya
An experienced officer in Northeast administration, Ahammed focuses on development outreach and institutional governance.

Ravindra Telang – Sikkim
Known for steady leadership, Telang supports governance in a strategically important Himalayan state.

Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar – Andaman & Nicobar Islands
An officer with island administration experience, he focuses on infrastructure, connectivity, and disaster preparedness.

H. Rajesh Prasady – Chandigarh
Managing a planned city, Prasady balances urban governance with UT administration.

1996–1997 Batches

J. K. Sinha – Tripura (1996)
An administrator with regional experience, Sinha focuses on stability and development in the Northeast.

Dr. V. Candavelou – Goa (1997)
With strong academic and administrative credentials, Candavelou leads Goa’s governance with emphasis on planning and sustainability.
Advisors

Amit Singla – Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (2003)
A development-oriented officer, Singla supports administrative coordination and growth in merged UTs.

Dr. S. B. Deepak Kumar – Ladakh (2005)
As Advisor, he strengthens administrative frameworks and governance systems in Ladakh.

Disclaimer:
The information presented in this feature is compiled from publicly available records, official sources, and open-domain internet material. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, Newsman of India does not claim absolute correctness and welcomes updates or corrections.