https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

K Vijayanand: The Steady Hand at the Helm of Andhra Pradesh

From a quiet start in Adilabad to the topmost bureaucratic post in the state, K Vijayanand’s journey reflects decades of groundwork, adaptability, and an eye for progress.
Indian Masterminds Stories

When K Vijayanand walked into the corridors of the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat as the Chief Secretary on a Tuesday afternoon in December 2024, it wasn’t just a change of nameplate. It was a milestone. For the first time in Andhra Pradesh’s history – united or bifurcated – a bureaucrat from the Backward Classes community had taken the reins as the state’s top civil servant.

This wasn’t a hurried appointment. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu personally picked Vijayanand over six other senior officers. With his retirement just a year away, the decision sent a message: experience matters, and so does community inclusion.

GROUND REALITIES AND GRASSROOTS LESSONS

Vijayanand began his career as Assistant Collector in Adilabad in 1993. From the forests of Rampachodavaram to the plains of Ranga Reddy and the coasts of Srikakulam, his early postings read like a map of Andhra Pradesh itself. He held roles that allowed him to understand both rural struggles and administrative challenges.

Whether as Sub-Collector or Joint Collector, Vijayanand built a reputation for being approachable, methodical, and clear-headed in decision-making. His years from 1997 to 2007 in Ranga Reddy were particularly significant. He wasn’t the headline-making officer but in the districts he served, his name often came up in conversations about functioning schools, smoother land reforms, and responsive district offices.

A DECADE IN ENERGY AND INDUSTRY

After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, he moved to the newly formed state’s core sectors – energy, IT, and industry.

As Principal Secretary for IT and Electronics (2016-2019), he pushed forward e-governance initiatives and promoted the state’s industrial growth. His role during that period helped shape Andhra Pradesh’s digital roadmap, laying the foundation for what would become key pitch points in the state’s investment narratives.

But it was his work in the power sector that stood out. As CMD of APGENCO and APTRANSCO, and later as Special Chief Secretary (Energy), Vijayanand had the unique challenge of stabilising power supply in a state still recovering from bifurcation shocks.

In 2023, under his leadership, the government signed a major agreement with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to purchase 7,000 MW of solar power from Rajasthan. Vijayanand described it as “unprecedented”, not for media effect, but because it involved a scale of renewable energy procurement not previously attempted by any state.

Though the deal would later find itself in political controversy due to unrelated allegations, the agreement remained intact. His role was administrative, and as always, he stayed off the political stage, focusing on the files and frameworks.

THE OFFICER WHO STUCK TO THE MIDDLE LANE

In a system that often rewards visibility, Vijayanand carved out space by keeping things quiet and steady. He’s not a bureaucrat you’ll find on social media or on panel discussions. He lets the work speak. And when it comes to work, there’s plenty.

From receiving multiple India Power Awards during his earlier stint at APGENCO to being named “CEO of the Year (State Thermal)” in 2013, his shelf of awards could rival a politician’s trophy case. But he rarely mentions them.

He also served as the State Chief Electoral Officer from 2019 to 2021, a period marked by intense political activity. Yet, his tenure passed with minimal noise, perhaps the most one can hope for in a role often under fire.

FIRST AMONG EQUALS

Vijayanand’s elevation to Chief Secretary isn’t just administrative; it’s deeply symbolic. For decades, no one from the BC community had ever held this post. His appointment has since been cited by the TDP as proof of its focus on giving BCs their share in leadership. Ministers across the cabinet, from BC Welfare to Agriculture, have echoed the sentiment.

But Vijayanand himself has stayed clear of commentary. When asked, he simply thanked the Chief Minister and his colleagues for the opportunity and said he would focus on development, particularly in backward regions.

ONE YEAR AT THE TOP

With retirement due in November 2025, Vijayanand has less than a year in the top job. But given his past record, a year is enough to stabilise departments, clear bottlenecks, and leave behind systems that outlast the headlines.

More importantly, his journey may encourage a fresh look at leadership pipelines in the bureaucracy where officers from all communities see a path to the top, provided the work backs them up.

QUIET ROADS, LONG DISTANCES

K. Vijayanand didn’t ride a wave of public praise or media coverage. His was a career of files, policies, unnoticed site visits, and precise PowerPoint slides in conference rooms. In many ways, that’s what makes him different and perhaps exactly what the state needs at this juncture.

As Andhra Pradesh finds its footing in a new political cycle, it will rely on the quiet strength of people like Vijayanand to keep the engine running – smooth, consistent, and focused on the road ahead.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Yogi Adityanath Ayodhya visit in Diwali
UP: CM Yogi Adityanath Orders Fire Stations Every 100 Km on Expressways, Approves 1,020 New Posts in Fire Services
SDM Chhotu Lal Sharma
Who Is SDM Chhotu Lal Sharma? The 2015-Batch RAS Officer Caught in Yet Another Scandal After Slapping Petrol Pump Employee
Solar Panels
CERC Proposes Buyout Price Mechanism to Ensure Compliance with Renewable Consumption Obligations
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy MNRE
MNRE Invites Creative Minds to Design Official Logo for National Green Hydrogen Mission
RBI
RBI Proposes Mandatory Unique Transaction Identifier for OTC Derivative Trades from April 2026
INS Trikand
Indian Navy’s INS Trikand Executes Heroic Firefighting and Rescue Operation on MT Falcon in Gulf of Aden
gghghghg
Defence Acquisition Council Approves Rs 79,000 Crore for Advanced Military Systems to Boost India’s Defence Capabilities
Bank_of_Baroda_signed_agreement_
Bank of Baroda Enhances Maharashtra Vital Statistics Operations with Advanced Agency Banking Integration
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Yogi Adityanath Ayodhya visit in Diwali
UP: CM Yogi Adityanath Orders Fire Stations Every 100 Km on Expressways, Approves 1,020 New Posts in Fire Services
SDM Chhotu Lal Sharma
Who Is SDM Chhotu Lal Sharma? The 2015-Batch RAS Officer Caught in Yet Another Scandal After Slapping Petrol Pump Employee
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT