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Full Name: Anil Kumar Singhal
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Date of Birth: 15 October 1970
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Place of Birth: Uttar Pradesh, India
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Educational Background: B.Tech in Electronics & Communication Engineering, a solid technical foundation that preceded his administrative career (IPS Details).
Anil Kumar Singhal cracked the highly competitive UPSC Civil Services Examination in 1992 and joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1993, becoming one of the youngest officers at just 23 (IPS Details).
Career Timeline & Notable Postings
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Initial Field Roles in Andhra Pradesh:
– Served as Assistant Collector in Anantapur and Nellore; Sub-Collector of Gadwal; Project Officer in ITDAs (KR Puram, Utnoor); Joint Collector & Additional DM in Guntur and Chittoor; Collector & District Magistrate in Medak, Sangareddy, East Godavari, and Visakhapatnam (IPS Details). -
Assignments with Government of India & AP Bhavan:
– Held positions such as Director in DoPT, OSD at AP Bhavan New Delhi, and Resident Commissioner (IPS Details). -
Executive Officer – TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams):
– First tenure: May 2017 to October 2020. Credited with enhancing transparency and introducing the “Srivani trust donations-linked VIP break darshan” scheme, which generated approximately ₹650 crore in donations within three years (The Times of India).
– Brief reappointment (full additional charge): December 22, 2022 to January 2, 2023 (The Times of India). -
State Leadership Roles:
– Appointed Principal Secretary for Health, Medical & Family Welfare following his first TTD tenure (The Times of India).
– Later took over as Principal Secretary, Revenue & Endowments, and became an ex-officio member of the TTD trust board (The Times of India).
– Appointed as Secretary to Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan in February 2023 (The Times of India, IPS Details).
– In June 2024, moved to the role of Special Chief Secretary, Municipal Administration & Urban Development following a major IAS reshuffle (The Times of India). -
Central Deputation – Government of India:
– October 2024: Elevated to Additional Secretary in the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education (ETGovernment.com, Witness In The Corridors).
– August 2025: Appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. The appointment was notable for bypassing the standard “cooling-off” clause typically applicable to central deputations, stirring discussions in bureaucracy (Witness In The Corridors, Indian Masterminds).
Recent Developments & Controversies
Recent Developments:
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NRAA CEO Appointment (Aug 2025): Singhal assumed the leadership of the NRAA, which plays a critical role in shaping agricultural policy for rainfed (non-irrigated) areas — key to India’s climate resilience efforts (Witness In The Corridors, Indian Masterminds).
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Cooling-Off Clause Waiver: His rapid redeputation to a central role soon after repatriation has been regarded as a rare administrative exception and subject of speculation within bureaucratic circles (Indian Masterminds).
Controversy:
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Regional Sentiment at TTD (2017): His initial appointment as TTD Executive Officer sparked objections from local political and religious quarters due to his North Indian origin. Critics—including Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan—argued a non-native lacked the cultural and linguistic affinity (e.g., knowledge of Agama Shastra, Telugu) required for the role. This controversy highlighted regional and cultural sensitivities in temple administration (The New Indian Express).
Top Interesting Facts
Fact | Insight |
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1. Young Achiever | Became IAS at 23, representing youth potential in civil services (IPS Details). |
2. Tech-Savvy Administrator | Engineering background likely contributed to efficient administration in diverse roles. |
3. TTD Reformist | Spearheaded the Srivani VIP darshan model, significantly boosting trust revenues (The Times of India). |
4. Cooling-Off Exception | Rapidly returned to central deputation despite cooling-off norm — underscoring his administrative reputation (Indian Masterminds). |
5. Cross-Cadre Impact | Made an exception to typical procedural timelines in civil services appointments — speaks to his versatility. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is Anil Kumar Singhal’s current role?
He is currently serving as the CEO of the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt of India (as of August 2025) (Witness In The Corridors, Indian Masterminds).
Q2. What was his major contribution at TTD?
He introduced the Srivani trust VIP darshan scheme, bringing ₹650 crore in donations over three years and elevating administrative transparency (The Times of India).
Q3. Why was his TTD appointment controversial?
He became the first non-native (North Indian) officer appointed as EO of TTD, drawing criticism from political and religious leaders citing cultural and regional disconnect (The New Indian Express).
Q4. What is the cooling-off clause?
A mandate requiring IAS officers to wait a certain period before another central deputation post. Singhal’s rapid redeputation to NRAA shortly after repatriation raised administrative eyebrows (Indian Masterminds).
Q5. When will he retire from service?
He is scheduled to retire on 31 October 2030 (IPS Details).
SEO-Focused Summary
Anil Kumar Singhal, a 1993-batch IAS officer from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, has emerged as a high-impact administrator with a spectrum of roles—ranging from district leadership to pivotal state and central government positions. Notable for his innovative strategy at TTD, his cross-domain expertise transcends regional sensitivities, and his recent appointment as NRAA CEO underscores his continued influence in shaping agriculture and education policy.
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