In an unanticipated move, Secretary Defence Production Raj Kumar who is a 1987 batch IAS of Gujarat cadre, has been repatriated to his parent cadre at the request of the state government.
Sources say Raj Kumar could be the next Chief Secretary of Gujarat. The current chief secretary Pankaj Kumar retires in May 2022. Earlier it was believed that Pankaj Kumar would be given an extension in view of Assembly elections in December ’22 but Raj Kumar’s homecoming could alter equations.
The 1987 batch IAS office, Raj Kumar, has also served as Joint Secretary, Dept of Economic Affairs; principal secretary, Gujarat govt in food and supplies department.
Raj Kumar is from Badaun in Uttar Pradesh and has done electrical engineering from IIT Kanpur. He also holds a Masters in Public Policy from Tokyo.
Raj Kumar has been in Delhi since 2015. Before defense production, he served as Director General, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation.
Kumar has also served as Joint Secretary, Dept of Economic Affairs; principal secretary, Gujarat govt in food and supplies department and agriculture department besides district-level assignments.
