The Centre on Tuesday approved a second extension in service for 1990-batch IAS officer and Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, for a period of six months, on the recommendation of the state government. Rastogi will now continue in office until the end of this year, specifically from July 1 to December 31, 2026.
Unprecedented second extension for Rastogi
Rastogi, who was due to retire in June 2025, had already received a one-year extension from the Centre at the state government's behest last year. That move was considered unprecedented because Haryana traditionally follows a convention of elevating the senior-most officer as the Chief Secretary. Rastogi's one-year term was set to end on Tuesday evening, but the government was keen on retaining him and made a case recommending an additional extension.
The order, issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India, and received by the General Administration Department of the Haryana Government on Tuesday evening, confirmed that the Centre had approved Haryana's proposal. It further stated that the extension was granted in relaxation of Rule 16(1) of the AIS (DCRB) Rules, 1958.
Impact on other senior IAS officers
At least four officers, including two of Rastogi's batch — Sudhir Rajpal and Raja Sekhar Vundru — will retire before the completion of his six-month extension. Another 1990-batch officer, Sumita Mishra, is due to retire in January 2027, meaning she still has a chance of elevation as the next Chief Secretary unless the state government has other plans.
