New Delhi, October 24, KDC: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday issued orders appointing Dr. Sajjan Singh Yadav, a 1995-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the AGMUT cadre, as the new Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the official order signed by MHA Director (S) Anish Muraleedharan, Yadav has been transferred from his current posting in Delhi. He will formally assume the top bureaucratic office in the Union Territory with effect from November 1, 2026, or from his date of joining, whichever is later.
Yadav’s appointment also puts the spotlight on the future postings of several IAS officers senior to him who are presently serving in the Jammu and Kashmir segment of the AGMUT cadre, including 1992-batch officer Shaleen Kabra.
Top sources in the MHA informed that several possibilities could be considered for these officers, including postings in other segments of the AGMUT cadre.
Born on January 5, 1969, with Haryana as his domicile state, Yadav brings over 31 years of administrative experience to the UT, having served across 17 distinct locations with 23 recorded postings.
His academic portfolio includes a Master of Public Administration in Economics from Harvard University and a Master of Public Administration in Public Policy from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Additionally, he holds a Master of Business Administration from Delhi University and a doctorate in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Yadav’s civil service career began with field assignments as Assistant Commissioner in Mizoram (1997-1998) and Deputy Commissioner in Arunachal Pradesh (1998-2002). Within Delhi’s urban governance framework, he has held portfolios such as Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (East), Secretary of the Urban Development Department, and Secretary & Commissioner of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs.
During his central deputation, Yadav served substantially in the Union Finance Ministry’s Department of Expenditure, holding positions from Joint Secretary up to Special Secretary. His federal assignments also include tenures as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Women & Child Development, alongside Director roles in the Ministries of Corporate Affairs and Health & Family Welfare.
The current calendar year has seen multiple administrative transitions for the officer. In March 2026, he was empanelled to hold the rank of Secretary or equivalent in the Government of India, subsequently taking charge as Special Secretary in the Department of Expenditure. In June 2026, following a premature repatriation to the AGMUT cadre, he was appointed as Additional Chief Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Delhi Jal Board. Less than six months later, the MHA has now assigned him the Chief Secretary portfolio in Jammu and Kashmir.
Beyond administrative postings, Yadav is the author of India’s Vaccine Growth Story from Cowpox to Vaccine, a documented history of India’s immunization trajectory. His service record includes the National e-Governance Award (2017-2018) and the President of India’s medal for his contributions to census operations. (KDC)
