Name: A. Vani Prasad
IAS Batch: 1995
Educational & Personal Background: Born in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, she was educated from primary through graduation in Hyderabad—establishing strong domicile ties with Telangana (The Times of India, Deccan Chronicle). Married to a Group ‘A’ officer in Central Engineering Services (Roads), she has twin children raised in Hyderabad (Indian Kanoon, Deccan Chronicle).
Career Trajectory & Key Contributions
Early Assignments & Environmental Leadership
During her tenure as District Collector of West Godavari, A. Vani Prasad spearheaded a vigorous ban on polythene bags, advocating eco-friendly alternatives and forming a multi-department task force to enforce the ban. Her efforts garnered recognition from UNEP affiliates like AECAS (aecasindia.weebly.com).
Principal Secretary & Administrative Zenith
She served notably as Principal Secretary across diverse portfolios, including Environment, Forest, Science & Technology, and later for Youth Affairs, Tourism, Culture & Sports Department. At one point, she even held additional charge of EPTRI (Environmental Protection Training & Research Institute) (Hyderabad Stories).
Special Chief Secretary – Labour, AP
In October 2024, she took over as Principal Secretary to Government, overseeing Labour, Factories, Boilers & Insurance in Andhra Pradesh (Government of Andhra Pradesh). She then rose to the rank of Special Chief Secretary in Andhra Pradesh’s Labour Department (jharkhandgyan.com).
Recent News & Controversies
1. Life-Threatening Incident on NH
On November 5, 2024, while travelling on the Hyderabad–Vijayawada Highway near Suryapet, she narrowly escaped a serious road accident. The vehicle veered off after avoiding an oncoming wrong-way vehicle, but both she and her driver emerged unhurt—credited to wearing seat belts (The Times of India).
2. Protracted Cadre Battle & Supreme Court Ruling
A major controversy revolved around her cadre allocation dispute post-2014 AP-Telangana bifurcation:
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In April 2025, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) dismissed her plea to be allotted to Telangana cadre, reinforcing her AP placement based on birthplace (Guntur)—despite her domicile ties to Hyderabad (Deccan Chronicle).
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However, in a significant reversal, the Telangana High Court in August 2025 declared the Centre's allocation method faulty, arguing that Article 371-D and the Presidential Order prioritize actual domicile over birthplace. The court directed the DoPT to transfer her to the Telangana cadre within two months (The Times of India, IndianMandarins, Indian Masterminds).
This ruling is viewed as precedent-setting, potentially affecting other officers in similar cadre disputes (Indian Masterminds).
Top Interesting Facts & FAQs
Interesting Facts
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First Deputy Collector to Apex Grade: She became the first deputy collector in India to reach the Apex Grade (X (formerly Twitter)).
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Plastic-Free Pioneer: Recognized for launching one of Andhra Pradesh’s earliest and most successful district-wide plastic bans.
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Married to UPSC Civil Servant: Her spouse is a Group 'A' officer in Central Engineering Services (Roads) under MoRTH (Indian Kanoon).
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Traffic Survival Story: Survived a highway accident unscathed—thanks to safety protocols.
FAQs
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Who is A. Vani Prasad, IAS?
A 1995-batch IAS officer known for leading environmental, youth, and labour administration in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. -
What are her signature achievements?
Implementing a strict polythene ban in West Godavari, steering eco-programs, and holding strategic secretary roles across multiple sectors. -
What was the recent cadre controversy about?
She contested her AP cadre allocation, lost at CAT in April 2025, but won at the Telangana High Court in August 2025—which ordered her transfer to Telangana cadre (The Times of India, IndianMandarins, Indian Masterminds, Deccan Chronicle). -
Was she injured in the highway accident?
No—she escaped the November 2024 Suryapet NH accident unharmed, credited to wearing seat belts (The Times of India). -
What roles does she currently hold?
As of late 2024/early 2025, she was serving as Special Chief Secretary, Labour Department, Andhra Pradesh. Post-HC ruling, she'll likely move to Telangana cadre.
Final Summary
A. Vani Prasad exemplifies commitment, environmental stewardship, and administrative excellence—rising in ranks while championing sustainability and youth development. Her resilient legal fight for cadre justice marks a landmark in civil service jurisprudence, and her accident survival story underscores her composure and adherence to safety. With roots firmly planted in Hyderabad, her reallocation to the Telangana cadre brings her career full circle, ready to shape policy again in her home state.
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