New Delhi (08.05.2025): Besides competitiveness to reach the top echelon of administration, there is also an element of bonhomie among officers of various batches and cadres. Irrespective of their posts and positions, batches of civil servants often take such things as pride and so is the case with 1991 and 1989 batches of IAS officers.
In the current scenario, particularly 1991 and 1989 batch of IAS officers often boast their representations in twelve big states and two UTs. However, 1991 batch officers represent a maximum of seven states as Chief Secretary whereas 1989 batch officers hold the position in five states and two key UTs of strategic importance namely Delhi and J&K.
1989 batch officers CS in 5 states & 2 strategic UTs:
Atal Dulloo (1989), formerly Union Secretary for Boarder Management, is handling the administrative framework as Chief Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir; an ultra-sensitive and strategic UT facing a war-like situation from across the border.
As Chief Secretary of Govt of NCT of Delhi, Dharmendra (1989) too is handling a challenging assignment responding to the preparedness of the New Delhi establishment. Further, Pankaj Joshi (1989) is leading the administrative framework of Gujarat sharing the coastal borders with Pakistan.
Amitabh Jain (1989) is currently heading the administrative setup in Chhattisgarh while Anurag Jain (1989) and Amrit Lal Meena (1989) are heading the bureaucratic setup in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, respectively. Until recently, Anurag Jain served as Road Transport and Highways Secretary while Amrit Lal Meena worked as Coal Secretary at the Centre.
Shalini Rajneesh (1989) has been serving as Karnataka Chief Secretary succeeding her husband Dr Rajneesh Goel (1986).
1991 Batch: Leading a maximum of seven states as CS
The 1991 batch has representations in seven states as Chief Secretary but most of them are challenging for the ruling dispensation at the Centre. Though the BJP seems comfortable in Rajasthan with the government led by BJP at the Centre.
Immediately after the BJP came to power in Rajasthan, Sudhansh Pant (1991), then Union Secretary for Health & Family Welfare, was repatriated to his home cadre to handle the administrative affairs as Chief Secretary. Rajasthan, sharing international borders with Pakistan too has a challenge at hand.
K Ramakrishna Rao (1991), Telangana Chief Secretary, replaced A Santhi Kumari (1989). Dr A Jayathilak (1991) recently replaced Sarada Muraleedharan (1990) as Chief Secretary of poll-bound Kerala. N Muruganandam (1991) is Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary while Dr Manoj Pant (1991) heads West Bengal administration. It may be noted that these three states (Kerala, TN & WB) have always been difficult for the ruling dispensation at the Centre. Further, 1991 batch IAS officer Jan-E-Alam is serving as Nagaland Chief Secretary, a small yet important state in North-East while Manish Kumar Gupta (1991) is serving as CS of Arunachal Pradesh sharing international borders with the expansionist China.
