25 Madhya Pradesh IAS Officers to Retire in 2027; Rajesh Rajora Emerges in Chief Secretary Succession Debate
Madhya Pradesh is set for a major administrative transition in 2027, with 25 IAS officers scheduled to retire during the year, including five serving at the Additional Chief Secretary level. The impending retirement of Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal in January and senior IAS officer Dr. Rajesh Kumar Rajora in May is expected to bring the question of succession to the forefront.
Madhya Pradesh is likely to witness considerable changes in its senior bureaucracy in 2027, with 25 IAS officers due to superannuate during the year. The list comprises five Additional Chief Secretary (ACS)-rank officers and 20 officers serving at the Secretary and Additional Secretary levels, according to a report published by Dainik Bhaskar.
Among the most prominent names are Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal, who is scheduled to retire in January 2027, and Dr. Rajesh Kumar Rajora, the senior-most serving IAS officer in the Madhya Pradesh cadre, whose retirement is due in May.
Their impending superannuation has brought the next appointment to the state’s highest administrative position into focus. However, the final decision will rest with the state government and will depend on the prevailing administrative and political considerations at the time.
Ashok Barnwal’s Retirement in January to Trigger Chief Secretary Succession Debate
Ashok Barnwal, a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, assumed charge as Chief Secretary in July 2026. He is scheduled to retire in January 2027.Unless his tenure is extended, the state government will have to appoint a successor to the top bureaucratic position early next year.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar Rajora, a 1990-batch IAS officer, is senior to Barnwal in the cadre. He is scheduled to retire in May 2027 and is currently serving as Director General of the RCVP Noronha Academy of Administration and Management in Bhopal.
Over the years, Rajora has held several significant administrative assignments, including Additional Chief Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the Narmada Valley Development Department and the Water Resources Department.
His seniority and remaining service period make him a significant name in the succession discussion. Nevertheless, his appointment is not automatic, and the state government will have the final say in selecting the next Chief Secretary.
Three IAS Officers Reportedly in Contention for Chief Secretary’s Post
If Barnwal does not receive an extension and Rajora is not considered for the position, three other senior IAS officers are reportedly among the possible contenders for the Chief Secretary’s post.
1. Manoj Govil (1991 batch, Madhya Pradesh cadre)
Currently serving as Secretary (Coordination) in the Cabinet Secretariat on central deputation, Govil has also held important responsibilities in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Union Finance Ministry. He is scheduled to retire in March 2029.
2. Manu Srivastava (1991 batch, Madhya Pradesh cadre)
Serving as Additional Chief Secretary in the state’s New and Renewable Energy Department, Srivastava has played an important role in Madhya Pradesh’s solar, wind and hydropower sectors. His retirement is scheduled for September 2027.
3. Pankaj Agrawal (1992 batch, Madhya Pradesh cadre)
Agrawal is currently serving as Secretary in the Union Ministry of Power. He has been on central deputation since 2019 and previously held important responsibilities in Madhya Pradesh’s power sector. He is due to retire in November 2029.
These names have emerged in the reported succession discussion. However, the state government has not made any official announcement regarding the next Chief Secretary.
25 Senior IAS Officers Scheduled to Retire in 2027
The retirement schedule covers officers serving at different levels of Madhya Pradesh’s administrative structure. Among the prominent names mentioned in the report are:
(IAS Officer – Retirement)
Dr. Rajesh Kumar Rajora (1990 batch) May 2027
Ashok Barnwal (1991 batch) January 2027
Manu Srivastava (1991 batch) September 2027
B.S. Jamod (2006 batch) May 2027
Anil Suchari (2006 batch) September 2027
Manish Singh (2009 batch), Commissioner, Public Relations December 2027
Deepak Saxena (2010 batch), Excise Commissioner December 2027
Alok Kumar Singh September 2027
Deepak Singh (2007 batch) April 2027
Dilip Kumar September 2027The other officers named in the reported retirement list include K.S. Gupta, V.L. Kantha Rao, Vandana Vaidya (2009 batch), Anupam Srivastava, Prabal Sepaha (2009 batch), Satendra Singh (2009 batch), Shailendra Singh, Dinesh Kumar Maurya, Ajay Srivastava, Sunil Dubey and Pramod Shukla.
September to Witness the Highest Number of IAS Retirements
The month-wise retirement schedule indicates that September 2027 will see the largest number of senior IAS superannuations, with five officers expected to retire.
The reported distribution is as follows:
* January, April, May and December: Three officers each.
* February, August and November: Two officers each.
* March and June: One officer each.
* July and October: No retirements listed.
Apart from the IAS officers, 32 officers belonging to the State Administrative Service and the Additional Collector-level administration are also scheduled to retire during 2027. Several Deputy Collectors are expected to superannuate as well.
The impending retirements will require the Madhya Pradesh government to undertake administrative adjustments and fill vacancies across multiple levels of the bureaucracy. However, the appointment of the next Chief Secretary will remain a separate and significant decision, with seniority, administrative experience, eligibility and the government’s assessment likely to figure in the selection process.
