On Tuesday, Senior IAS officer Rajneesh Goel was appointed as the Chief Secretary of Karnataka, succeeding Vandita Sharma, who is set to retire on November 30, have a look at Goel’s age, biography and batch
Currently serving as the additional chief secretary to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Goel, a 1986-batch Karnataka-cadre officer, boasts a career spanning over three decades with extensive administrative experience.
Who is IAS Rajneesh Goel new Chief Secretary of Karnataka, biography, age, wife, batch and education
Karnataka gets the new chief secretary, 1986 year batch IAS Rajneesh Goel has been appointed as the new CS.@NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/AuUM0FJ0aM
— Ashwini M Sripad/เฒ เฒถเณเฒตเฒฟเฒจเฒฟ เฒเฒ เฒถเณเฒฐเณเฒชเฒพเฒฆเณ๐ฎ๐ณ (@AshwiniMS_TNIE) November 21, 2023
Goelโs Career
He has headed various departments, including home and higher education, and has previously served as the BBMP commissioner. Goel, known for his soft-spoken demeanor, hails from the Karnataka cadre but has roots in Chandigarh.
Scheduled to hold the position until his retirement in July 2024, Goelโs likely successor is his wife, Shalini Rajneesh, a 1989-batch officer serving as the additional chief secretary and development commissioner.
The Goel couple hails from Chandigarh and Rajnish Goelโs father is a well-known academic. ISN Prasad is a Manipur cadre officer and was given a change of cadre after he married Vandita Sharma, who was from the Karnataka cadre.
In contrast, both Rajneesh and Shalini Rajneesh are from the Karnataka Cadre. Recently, Rajneesh managed to get the Additional Chief Secretary job at the chief ministerโs office (CMO), which is a sign that things are fine between him and the present political dispensation and while his DOB isn’t known, he is aged between 55-65 years.
If this transition occurs, the Goel couple is poised to collectively occupy the high office for approximately four years, as Shalini is expected to have a three-year tenure. The potential appointment of Ajay Seth, an officer in Delhi, seems unlikely, clearing the path for Shalini to assume the role.
Goel to Become 40th CS
Upon assuming office, Goel will become the 40th Chief Secretary of Karnataka, succeeding Vandita Sharma, marking a significant transition in the state bureaucracy.
His wealth of experience, including his current role as the additional chief secretary to the Chief Minister, positions him as a well-qualified choice for this pivotal role, contributing to the ongoing progress and development of the state. The State Cabinet had previously empowered Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to make the selection for the next Chief Secretary.
โDr. Rajneesh Goel IAS, a senior officer of the Karnataka cadre (1986 batch) currently serving as the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government in the Home Department, has been appointed as the Chief Secretary to the Government of Karnataka.
โThis decision follows the forthcoming retirement of the incumbent Chief Secretary, Smt. Vandita Sharma IAS, who is set to retire from service on superannuation on November 30, 2023,โ as per an official notification.
Who is Vandita Sharma?
On May 31, 2023, Senior IAS officer Vandita Sharma assumed the role of Chief Secretary for Karnataka, succeeding P. Ravi Kumar, who retired on the same day.
During her tenure, which will last until November 2023, Ms. Sharma actively engaged with officials, overseeing and evaluating various state programs and projects. Notably, she served as the 39th Chief Secretary of the state, making her the fourth woman to hold this prestigious position.
Additionally, Ms. Sharma holds the honorary position of President in the Karnataka IAS Officersโ Association. In a notable trend, Karnatakaโs State Secretariat boasts the presence of two other accomplished women in leadership roles: M.K. Vishalakshi, serving as the Secretary of the Legislative Assembly, and K.R. Mahalakshmi, holding the position of Secretary of the Legislative Council.
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