By Abul Hasan|THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM| The appointment of Sanjeev Kumar, IAS (1998), as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister marks a significant consolidation of experience, intellect and administrative maturity at the very centre of state governance. Entrusted simultaneously with the additional charge of the Home Department, Sanjeev Kumar steps into a role that demands strategic clarity, institutional coordination and decisive leadership—qualities he has demonstrated consistently over nearly three decades in public service.

An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, where he completed his B.Tech (Honours), and the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, USA, where he earned an MPA, Sanjeev Kumar represents a rare blend of technological grounding and global public policy exposure. His academic journey has deeply informed his governance style—data-driven, outcome-oriented and rooted in long-term institutional sustainability.

A 1998 batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre, Sanjeev Kumar’s career has spanned a remarkably diverse range of sectors, including finance, energy, petrochemicals, commercial taxes, rural development, urban development and housing, planning, and general administration.

What sets Sanjeev Kumar apart is his rare ability to seamlessly move between grassroots administration and boardroom-level decision-making. His postings in Panchayats and Rural Development gave him a close understanding of local governance and citizen-centric delivery, while his roles in Finance and Planning sharpened his macroeconomic and policy formulation skills. This dual exposure has shaped a governance philosophy that balances growth with inclusion and sustainability.

His leadership roles across major state and national public sector enterprises—GSPC Group, Gujarat Gas Limited, Gujarat State Petronet Limited, Sabarmati Gas Limited and GSPC LNG Limited—have placed him at the forefront of Gujarat’s energy and infrastructure expansion. As a Director on the boards of key institutions such as GIDC, GMDC, GSRTC, GIDB, DREAM City Ltd and Dholera Industrial City Development Ltd, he has played a crucial role in shaping industrial, urban and transport ecosystems.

The nearly quarter-century journey of Sanjeev Kumar in the IAS reflects a steady evolution from field administration to strategic governance. His people-centric yet growth-oriented approach, backed by deep sectoral knowledge and institutional memory, positions him uniquely to support the Chief Minister in steering policy coherence, administrative coordination and internal security management.

As Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, with the Home Department under his additional charge, Sanjeev Kumar now stands at the confluence of policy, power and public purpose—bringing with him a legacy of competence, credibility and calm leadership at a time when governance increasingly demands both vision and vigilance.