Thiruvananthapuram, June 24: The Kerala Cabinet has selected senior IAS officer Bishwanath Sinha as the new Chief Secretary of the state. He will take charge after Dr A Jayathilak retires on June 30, 2026.
Bishwanath Sinha currently serves as the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department. He is one of the most experienced officers in the Kerala cadre. His appointment marks an important administrative change for the state.
Senior-Most Officer in Kerala
Bishwanath Sinha belongs to the 1992 IAS batch of the Kerala cadre. He is the senior-most officer currently serving in the state administration.
Senior officers Manoj Joshi and Sanjay Kaushik are working outside Kerala. Since they are not expected to return, the government chose Sinha for the top post. The government also considered Finance Secretary K R Jyothilal. However, he has service remaining until 2029. Officials believe he may get an opportunity for the post in the future.
Long Administrative Career
Bishwanath Sinha was born on September 24, 1968, in Bihar. He completed his Master’s degree from the University of Delhi. He is fluent in both English and Hindi. Since June 2023, he has led the Home Department as Additional Chief Secretary. He has handled many important administrative and governance matters during this period.
Throughout his career, Sinha has served in several key positions. These include Principal Secretary, Joint Secretary, Resident Commissioner at Kerala House in New Delhi, District Collector, Managing Director, Chief Vigilance Officer, Deputy Inspector General, Director, and Deputy Secretary.
His experience across multiple departments has made him one of Kerala’s most trusted senior officers.
Important Role Ahead
The Chief Secretary is the highest-ranking civil servant in Kerala. The position plays a key role in implementing government decisions and coordinating work between departments. Bishwanath Sinha brings decades of administrative experience to the role. His leadership will be important in improving coordination and ensuring smooth implementation of government policies.
His appointment comes as Dr A Jayathilak prepares to retire at the end of this month. The government is expected to issue the official appointment order soon. Bishwanath Sinha will assume office as Kerala’s new Chief Secretary from July 1, 2026.