Rajnikant M Patel, born on 25 December 1952, is a retired Indian Administrative Service officer from the 1977 Gujarat cadre. He held multiple key positions throughout his career, including Additional Chief Secretary at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from July 2011 to December 2012. His service spanned roles such as Principal Secretary, Secretary, Managing Director, Commissioner, Joint Secretary, Deputy Secretary, District Collector, and Assistant Collector. Patel holds graduate degrees in English and Law, as well as a postgraduate degree in English. He served in the Tribal Development Department during his tenure in the IAS.