Haryana's Chief Secretary Race Heats Up as Anurag Rastogi Prepares to Retire in June
With Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi set to retire on June 30, the state government is weighing its options. Sudhir Rajpal and Dr Sumita Misra are the frontrunners, with two other 1990-batch officers also in consideration.
Haryana is bracing for a significant transition at the top of its administrative hierarchy. Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi (IAS: 1990: HY) is scheduled to retire on June 30, 2026, setting off an internal succession exercise within the state's IAS cadre. Two officers are considered the leading contenders for the post. Sudhir Rajpal (IAS: 1990: HY) is among the frontrunners but is himself due to retire in November 2026, which limits his tenure if appointed. Dr Sumita Misra (IAS: 1990: HY) has a longer runway, with her retirement date falling in January 2027 — a factor that may weigh in her favour if continuity is the primary consideration. Two other names are also doing the rounds. V Umashankar (IAS: 1993: HY) and Raja Shekhar Vundru (IAS: 1990: HY) are being discussed as potential candidates, though they are currently seen as secondary contenders. The final decision rests with the Chief Minister's office, and a formal announcement is expected before Rastogi's last working day later this month.
