For Dr. Sajjan Singh Yadav, the Indian Administrative Service has never been just about holding important positions. It has been about the opportunity to work across different regions, understand the needs of people and make a tangible difference in their lives. From serving in remote districts of Arunachal Pradesh to handling key responsibilities in the Union Finance Ministry, his career has taken him through some of the most diverse areas of governance.
Now, the 1995-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre is set to take charge as the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir. He will succeed Atal Dulloo, who retired on October 31, 2026. The Union Home Ministry’s order appointing Yadav states that his transfer to Jammu and Kashmir will take effect from November 1 or the date he joins, whichever is later.
His appointment brings to the Union Territory an administrator with nearly three decades of experience in public policy, finance, healthcare, nutrition, water management and infrastructure development.
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A Career Shaped by Diverse Assignments
Born on January 5, 1969, and originally from Haryana, Yadav has built a career that spans state administration, Union Territories and the Central Government. Over the years, he has worked in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Delhi, besides serving in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
His early field assignments included serving as District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner in East Kameng and Tawang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, as well as South Delhi. These postings gave him an opportunity to work directly with communities and understand the administrative challenges of regions with very different geographical and social conditions.
In his conversation with Indian Masterminds, Yadav recalled his years in Arunachal Pradesh as particularly memorable. He described the experience as both challenging and deeply satisfying, especially because administrators in remote districts often have to understand local cultures, political realities and people’s requirements before implementing development programmes.
He also spoke about the additional responsibilities involved in border districts, including coordination with the Army and paramilitary forces. Such assignments, he explained, offer a different kind of administrative experience compared to working in more conventional districts.
The Special Experience of Serving in Remote Regions
Yadav’s experience in Arunachal Pradesh remains one of the defining chapters of his career. He served in two districts, including Tawang, a region known for its difficult terrain, remote settlements and strategic importance.
For him, the challenges of these postings were closely linked to the opportunities they offered. Administrators had to work across departments, understand the local context and coordinate with different agencies to ensure that government programmes reached people effectively.
When asked which place he would like to revisit or serve again, Yadav expressed a special fondness for Tawang. He spoke about its natural beauty, peaceful surroundings and distinctive landscape. He also recalled the contrast between the region and Daman and Diu, where he experienced a very different setting, with coastal surroundings, beaches and heritage.
This exposure to varied regions has been a recurring feature of his AGMUT cadre career, which offers officers opportunities to serve in multiple states and Union Territories.
From Public Health to Finance and Governance
Yadav’s academic background reflects his interest in policy and public administration. He holds an MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi, a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, and a doctorate in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
His professional journey has brought together these areas of learning. In the Central Government, he has served in the Ministries of Finance, Health and Family Welfare, Women and Child Development, Heavy Industries, and Public Enterprises and Corporate Affairs.
Among his significant assignments was serving as Mission Director of the National Nutrition Mission, popularly known as POSHAN Abhiyaan. He also worked as Director of the National Rural Health Mission, contributing to programmes aimed at improving healthcare delivery.
His administrative experience in Delhi has been equally varied. He has held responsibilities as Commissioner of Food and Supplies, Commissioner of Trade and Taxes, and Commissioner of Excise, Entertainment and Luxury Tax. He has also served as CEO of the Delhi Jal Board and Commissioner of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation.
In these roles, he dealt with issues ranging from essential supplies and taxation to municipal administration, water supply and sewerage management. His recent responsibilities in Delhi included serving as Additional Chief Secretary (Industries), CEO of the Delhi Jal Board and Chairperson of the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation.
A Long Association with the Finance Ministry
Yadav has also spent a substantial part of his career in the Union Finance Ministry. He served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Expenditure before taking on the role of Additional Secretary in the same department. In March 2026, he was elevated to Special Secretary in the Department of Expenditure and was subsequently repatriated to his AGMUT cadre.
His experience in the Finance Ministry involved working on matters related to public expenditure and government finances, adding another dimension to his administrative profile. The combination of field-level experience and senior policy responsibilities has given him exposure to both the implementation and formulation of government programmes.
He has received several recognitions during his career, including the National e-Governance Award for 2017–18 and the President of India’s Medal for outstanding work in census operations.
An Author Who Documents India’s Public Health Journey
Beyond his administrative responsibilities, Yadav has developed a strong interest in writing and documenting India’s development journey. He has authored two books that draw on his engagement with public policy and the civil services.
His book India’s Vaccine Growth Story: From Cowpox to Vaccine Maitri traces India’s journey in vaccine development and immunisation. The idea took shape during the COVID-19 pandemic, when vaccines became central to the world’s efforts to overcome the crisis.
Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Yadav recalled how widespread fear and uncertainty during the lockdown prompted him to explore the history of vaccines. What began as personal curiosity gradually developed into extensive research as he discovered important stories and lesser-known episodes from India’s vaccination journey.
The book went on to become a national bestseller and was translated into Spanish and 16 Indian languages. He has also published extensively in national and international journals, magazines and newspapers.
His second book, Scaling Mount UPSC: 7 IAS Officers’ Journeys, brings together the experiences of civil servants and offers readers insights into their journeys through the country’s competitive examination system.
Finding Purpose in Public Service
For Yadav, the most rewarding aspect of being an IAS officer is the opportunity to use the resources and authority of the position to improve people’s lives. In his conversation with Indian Masterminds, he said that the satisfaction of contributing to society is difficult to find in other professions.
“At the end of the day, when you go home and sleep at night, you get a good night’s sleep because you have done something good,” he said, explaining what makes public service meaningful to him.
He also highlighted the variety of assignments available in the IAS, where officers can move between sectors, regions and levels of administration during their careers. For him, this diversity is one of the service’s greatest strengths.
A New Responsibility in Jammu and Kashmir
Yadav’s appointment as Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir marks another important phase in his career. The position will require him to coordinate the Union Territory’s administrative machinery, work with the elected government and oversee priorities across development, infrastructure and public service delivery.
His experience in remote border districts, public health programmes, financial administration and urban infrastructure gives him a broad administrative background for the assignment.
As he prepares to take charge, Yadav brings with him the experience of working in very different parts of the country and handling responsibilities that range from grassroots administration to national-level policymaking. His next chapter in Jammu and Kashmir will add another significant responsibility to a career built around the many dimensions of public service.
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