Mumbai: Senior IAS Rajesh Aggarwal, belonging to the 1989 batch, has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Maharashtra.
Aggarwal replaces IAS Rajesh Kumar of the 1988 batch, whose extended term ended on November 30, 2025.
Aggarwal will serve in the post until November 2026. The government expects his leadership to support continuity in administration and a stronger drive toward governance reforms.
Aggarwal returned to Maharashtra in October 2025 after spending more than ten years in central government roles. Before taking charge as Chief Secretary, he served as Additional Chief Secretary in the General Administration Department, handling administrative innovation, excellence, and good governance. He took over that responsibility on November 7, 2025. His most recent central government role was as secretary in the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Aggarwal has held several important assignments in both the state and central governments throughout a career spanning 36 years. His work as Secretary of the Information Technology Department in Maharashtra between 2011 and 2015 stands out. At that time, he led projects like DigiLocker, Jeevan Pramaan, and major e-governance systems that helped make public services more accessible. He has also ruled on many cyber law cases under the IT Act, helping build India’s legal framework in the digital space.
Aggarwal’s earlier roles include District Collector of Akola, Director at the Election Commission of India, and senior positions in the Ministries of Finance, Tribal Affairs, Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. These assignments gave him wide exposure to diverse sectors and policy areas.
In his new role at the top bureaucratic position, Aggarwal is expected to focus on improving coordination between departments, better monitoring of key schemes, and pushing new ideas in governance. His experience in technology and reform-oriented leadership is expected to guide Maharashtra’s future policy direction.
