Inside Raisina Hill: Race For Telangana Chief Secretary Heats Up

As one walks down the Hill along the Rajpath, now renamed Kartavya Path, come other edifices — Rail Bhavan, Krishi Bhavan, Shashtri Bhavan, and Kartavya Bhavan on one side and Sena Bhavan, Udyog Bhavan, and Vanijya Bhavan on the other. The bureaucrats who adorn the offices in these buildings decide on India's economic, social, and industrial policies. There are many tales to be told from the corridors of these grandiose buildings. We let you in on some of them here in this week's edition of "Inside Raisina Hill".

Sanjay Jaju Likely To Be Next Chief Secretary Of Telangana

Amid speculations about the next Chief Secretary of Telangana, Sanjay Jaju, Union Secretary for the Department of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), has been prematurely repatriated to Telangana. 

Jaju’s sudden return to his parent cadre opens up another high-profile Secretary-level vacancy at the Centre, widening avenues for the upcoming Secretary-level reshuffle at the Centre.

The development comes at a time when the extended tenure of the incumbent Chief Secretary, K Ramakrishna Rao, ends on June 30, 2026. Rao officially retired from service on August 31, 2025, but was granted a nine-month post-superannuation extension by the state government, which expires on June 30, 2026.

PAC Questions No-Show By Andaman & Nicobar Chief Secretary

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, chaired by Congress MP K.C. Venugopal, has taken serious note of the absence of Andaman and Nicobar Chief Secretary Chandra Bhushan Kumar (1995-batch, AGMUT cadre) from its meeting held on June 24, 2026. It has decided to seek an explanation on the same. 

Sources said that Kumar failed to appear before the panel. His request for exemption had been declined. The PAC viewed the absence as a matter of concern and resolved to raise the issue with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Addressing the meeting, Venugopal said that the committee would write to the Union Home Secretary, seeking clarification on the circumstances under which the senior bureaucrat did not attend the proceedings despite being required to do so.

The PAC meeting examined audit observations contained in reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Discussions focused on audit paragraphs relating to the Institute of Medical Sciences in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Chandigarh Welfare Board.

Navratna Status Accorded To Shipbuilding Firm GRSE

The Centre has accorded the Navratna status to government-owned shipbuilding firm Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE). The government will now have 29 Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).

The upgradation of GRSE to Navratna status was approved on June 19, 2026, in recognition of its strong financial performance, operational excellence, and strategic importance in India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.

The elevation places GRSE among the elite group of 29 Navratna CPSEs that have enhanced financial and operational autonomy. The status empowers the company to undertake larger investments, establish joint ventures, enter strategic alliances, and execute expansion plans with greater flexibility and decision-making. They can invest up to ₹1,000 crore or 15% of their net worth on a single project, without requiring the Central government’s approval.

Over the years, GRSE has built more than 800 maritime platforms, delivered 118 warships to the Indian armed forces, and expanded its global footprint through export orders, including the construction of multi-purpose vessels for Germany.

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha's Tenure As Secretary, Ministry Of Ayush, Extended

The government has extended the tenure of Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, by one more year, until June 28, 2027. This is the fifth consecutive extension given to Kotecha for this post. 

Kotecha joined the government through lateral entry. 

The ACC approved the tenure extension for Kotecha up to June 28, 2027, the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) said in an order.

Kotecha, who was a chief consultant at the Chakrapani Ayurveda Clinic in Jaipur, was initially appointed as a Special Secretary in the Ministry in June 2017. Later, he was appointed as the Secretary.

He was given two-year extensions twice, first in 2020 and then in 2022. His term was extended by one year each in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Kotecha’s current tenure was to end on June 28, 2026.

The Ministry of Ayush was formed on November 9, 2014, to revive the traditional systems of medicine, with focused attention towards education and research in Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy.