New Delhi: Barely days after his retirement as Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy in the Ministry of Education, senior IAS officer Sanjay Kumar (IAS:1990:Bihar) is reportedly being considered for a significant post-retirement assignment. According to sources, the former bureaucrat is among the frontrunners for the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog. At the same time, his name is also under active consideration for a senior role in the Bihar Chief Minister’s Office, either as Principal Secretary or Advisor to the Chief Minister.
Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished career bureaucrats of the Bihar cadre, Sanjay Kumar superannuated on June 30, 2026, after serving as Secretary in the Department of School Education and Literacy. His long administrative career, spanning over three decades, has included several key assignments in both the Government of India and the Bihar Government.
Post-Retirement Role Under Discussion
Sources indicate that the Centre is evaluating Sanjay Kumar’s candidature for the post of CEO, NITI Aayog, one of the country’s most influential public policy institutions. Simultaneously, political and bureaucratic circles in Bihar suggest that he could also be entrusted with a crucial role in the Bihar Chief Minister’s Office.
Speculation has intensified following changes in Bihar’s political landscape under Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. If appointed, Kumar could either serve as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister or as Advisor, providing strategic policy guidance to the state government.
The advisory role is currently held by retired IAS officer Deepak Kumar (IAS:1984), a veteran bureaucrat closely associated with former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. With Nitish Kumar now serving as a Rajya Sabha MP and being considered for a larger role within the NDA, administrative restructuring in Bihar has fuelled discussions about Sanjay Kumar’s possible return to the state administration.
A Career Bureaucrat with Vast Administrative Experience
Sanjay Kumar belongs to the 1990 batch of the Bihar cadre IAS. Born on June 4, 1966, he has built a reputation as an officer known for policy formulation, institutional reforms and effective governance.
He retired from the Government of India as Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, where he served since December 2025 after previously holding the position from December 2022 as part of the Ministry of Education’s restructuring.
Throughout his career, he handled major assignments across sectors including education, health, youth affairs, infrastructure and governance.
Educational Background
Academically accomplished, Sanjay Kumar possesses an impressive educational profile.
He completed his undergraduate education at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, followed by an M.Sc. in Physics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He also earned a postgraduate degree in Economics and later completed an M.Phil. in Defence Strategic Studies from the National Defence College, New Delhi.
He is fluent in English, Hindi and Urdu, a skill that has complemented his administrative responsibilities across diverse assignments.
Major Assignments During His Career
Over nearly 36 years in public service, Sanjay Kumar has held several prestigious positions at both the Centre and in the states.
His key assignments include:
- Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education (2022–2026)
- Additional charge as Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) and Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances during early 2026
- Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, Government of India
- Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Jharkhand (2015–2018)
- Private Secretary to the Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment (2004–2008)
- Principal Secretary/Additional Chief Secretary in Bihar’s Health Department
- Principal Secretary/Additional Chief Secretary in Bihar’s Education Department
- Executive Director and several senior policy and administrative assignments in both the Bihar Government and Government of India
- District Collector and Magistrate during his early administrative career
Driving National Education Reforms
Sanjay Kumar’s tenure at the Ministry of Education is widely remembered for steering several landmark education initiatives.
He played an important role in implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, overseeing the rollout of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) and strengthening foundational learning initiatives.
Under his leadership, the Ministry accelerated the NIPUN Bharat Mission, introduced the innovative ‘Jaadui Pitara’ learning toolkit for foundational education, and expanded access to digital education by enabling more than 200 virtual laboratory experiments for school students.
He also represented India in several international education forums, including meetings of the G20 Education Working Group, where he contributed to discussions on global education reforms and digital learning.
Challenges During His Final Tenure
Despite an otherwise distinguished career, Sanjay Kumar’s final months in office witnessed two major controversies.
The Ministry of Education faced criticism over issues related to CBSE examination result evaluation, while the NEET examination paper leak controversy also generated significant public debate during his tenure.
Although these developments attracted considerable attention, they have not diminished his standing within bureaucratic circles, where he continues to be regarded as one of the most experienced administrators in public policy and governance.
Why He Is Considered for NITI Aayog
With decades of experience in education reforms, governance, institutional strengthening, policy planning and inter-governmental coordination, Sanjay Kumar is viewed as a strong candidate for the CEO position at NITI Aayog.
The role requires close coordination with central ministries, state governments, industry and global institutions—areas in which Kumar has accumulated substantial administrative expertise over his long career.
Possible Return to Bihar Administration
Apart from the possibility of heading NITI Aayog, Kumar’s extensive experience in Bihar administration makes him a suitable candidate for a senior advisory role in the Chief Minister’s Office.
Officials familiar with the developments believe his understanding of governance, development planning, education and public administration could prove valuable as Bihar focuses on accelerating reforms and infrastructure-led growth.
While no official announcement has been made, sources suggest a decision regarding his next assignment may be taken in the coming weeks.
About Sanjay Kumar (Quick Profile)
- Service: Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
- Batch: 1990
- Cadre: Bihar
- Date of Birth: June 4, 1966
- Education: St. Stephen’s College; M.Sc. Physics (SUNY Stony Brook); Postgraduate in Economics; M.Phil. in Defence Strategic Studies (NDC)
- Last Posting: Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education
- Retired On: June 30, 2026
- Likely Post-Retirement Roles: CEO, NITI Aayog or Principal Secretary/Advisor to Bihar Chief Minister
