Senior IAS Sudhir Rajpal Assigned Finance Charge as Race for CM's Principal Secretary Heats Up
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In a consequential administrative realignment across Haryana's bureaucratic corridors, the state's senior-most civil servant, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Sudhir Rajpal, has been officially entrusted with the additional charge of the vital Finance and Planning Department on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Rajpal, who already commands critical state portfolios encompassing Home, Jails, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Administration of Justice, and Environment, Forests & Wildlife, steps into the financial helm following the superannuation of seasoned bureaucrat Arun Gupta on September 30. The strategic consolidation of both security and fiscal machinery under Rajpal comes at a sensitive political juncture, even as intense lobbying unfolds within the Haryana cadre over who will secure the coveted post of Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.
Massive Bureaucratic Mandate: Sudhir Rajpal Consolidates Home, Intelligence, and State Treasury
The appointment expands Sudhir Rajpal's administrative remit to the highest levels of governance:
Dual Control Over Home and Finance: By adding Finance and Planning to his existing responsibilities over the Home Department, Prisons, CID intelligence, and Environmental governance, Rajpal emerges as the central pillar steering both the administrative execution and budgetary allocations of Haryana.
Superannuation of Arun Gupta: The finance portfolio fell vacant following the formal retirement of Arun Gupta on September 30, 2026, who previously executed the twin roles of ACS Finance and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister.
Centre Declines Service Extension: While the state administration had moved a formal representation to the Union Government seeking an official service extension for Arun Gupta—on lines similar to the service extension granted to Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi—the proposal failed to secure clearance from the central personnel authorities.
Race for CM's Principal Secretary: Decision Deferred Until Return from Singapore Tour
While the state treasury leadership stands resolved, the nerve center of the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) remains in flux:
Key CMO Post Remains Open: The high-profile position of Principal Secretary to Chief Minister (PSCM) remains officially vacant, setting off active bureaucratic speculation and lobbying among senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers positioned in Chandigarh and on central deputation.
Singapore Official Visit on October 4–6: The final order notifying the new PSCM will likely be held until Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini concludes his three-day international official tour to Singapore, scheduled from October 4 to October 6, 2026.
New Strategic Assignment for Arun Gupta: Significantly, retired bureaucrat Arun Gupta is accompanying Chief Minister Saini on the foreign visit, sparking expectations within Secretariat circles that Gupta may soon be appointed to a high-ranking advisory or coordinating role within the Chief Minister's Office post-trip.
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