https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Historic First: IAS Officer in Kerala Hands Over Chief Secretary Role to Wife, Video Went Viral

"For the first time in India (at least as far as anyone can remember!), Kerala’s outgoing ChiefSecretary, Dr V, Venu, handed over the CS’s post to his wife, Sarada Murlidharan, at a formal handover ceremony at the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram. Both are IAS officers of the 1990 batch but Venu is several months older than his wife, who is next in seniority in the service."
Indian Masterminds Stories

In a historic first for Kerala’s bureaucracy – and possibly for Indian bureaucracy as a whole – an IAS officer has handed over the Chief Secretary position to his wife. Ms Sarada Muraleedharan, a 1990-batch IAS officer, has taken over as Chief Secretary of Kerala following the retirement of her husband, V. Venu, on September 1, 2024.

Mr. V. Venu, a seasoned IAS officer from the same batch, retired on August 31. The state cabinet has confirmed Sarada Muraleedharan’s appointment as the 49th Chief Secretary of Kerala.

Also Read: Meet the Powerful Couple: Sarada Muraleedharan Appointed Kerala’s New Chief Secretary, Succeeding Husband V Venu

Previously, Ms Muraleedharan served as the Additional Chief Secretary in the Planning and Economic Affairs Department under the Ministry of Finance. The Kerala government officially announced her appointment on August 21, 2024.

A video of this significant handover has gone viral online, capturing the momentous transition of power within the IAS couple. Notably, Congress leader and former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Shashi Tharoor, shared a clip of the official ceremony on social media platform ‘X.’

He wrote, “For the first time in India (at least as far as anyone can remember!), Kerala’s outgoing ChiefSecretary, Dr V, Venu, handed over the CS’s post to his wife, Sarada Murlidharan, at a formal handover ceremony at the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram. Both are IAS officers of the 1990 batch but Venu is several months older than his wife, who is next in seniority in the service.

A clip of the ceremony: the government was able to economise on the bouquet!”

Netizens are enthusiastic about the video, praising the powerful IAS couple for their mutual respect, understanding, and the elegant gesture of passing the role between them.

While, Ms Muraleedharan, a seasoned IAS officer like her husband, has an extensive career marked by significant positions across various departments. Her previous roles include heading the Kudumbashree Mission, aimed at poverty eradication and women’s empowerment, from 2006 to 2012.

She has also served as the Chief Operating Officer at the National Rural Livelihoods Mission of the Ministry of Rural Development and as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
MCL Town Hall project Patnagarh
MCL Allocates Rs 9.97 Crore for Town Hall Project in Patnagarh, Strengthening Community Infrastructure in Odisha
SAIL
SAIL Reports 53% Decline in Q2 FY26 Profit to Rs 418 Crore, Revenue Surges Amid Strong Sales Volume
Railtel
RailTel Achieves 27% Growth in Q2 FY26, Reports Rs 966 Crore Income and Announces Interim Dividend
NMDC Steel Ltd
NMDC Achieves Record-Breaking Q2 FY26 with 23% Growth in Production and 33% Increase in PAT
HPCL_logo_HIndustan Petroleum
Results: HPCL Reports 731% Surge in H1 FY26 Profit, Driven by Strong Refining & Marketing Performance
BHEL
BHEL Reports 3x Surge in Q2 Net Profit to Rs 374.89 Crore, Driven by Strong Revenue Growth of Rs 7,686.41 Crore
DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar bribery case
Bribery to Benami Assets: CBI Registers Disproportionate Assets Case Against IPS Harcharan Singh Bhullar; Massive Cash, Gold, & Property Recovered
President Droupadi Murmu Rafale flight
Historic First: At 67, President Droupadi Murmu Becomes First Indian President to Fly in Rafale Fighter Jet, Calls It an ‘Unforgettable Experience’
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
Visually impaired IAS officer Gokul S turned his challenges into change, empowering hundreds through...
Parmeshwar Chaudhary RAS
From Taunts to Triumph: How Farmer’s Son Parmeshwar Chaudhary Rose from Lab Assistant to SDM, Securing Rank 3 in RAS 2023
Parmeshwar, once taunted over his SI selection, has scripted a stunning success—securing Rank 3 in RAS...
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,...
Social Media
Tenzin Yangki IPS Arunachal
Historic First: Who Is Tenzin Yangki, Arunachal Pradesh’s First Woman to Join IPS? Anand Mahindra Hails Her
She secured an impressive 545th rank in the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination - 2022.
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
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
MCL Town Hall project Patnagarh
MCL Allocates Rs 9.97 Crore for Town Hall Project in Patnagarh, Strengthening Community Infrastructure in Odisha
SAIL
SAIL Reports 53% Decline in Q2 FY26 Profit to Rs 418 Crore, Revenue Surges Amid Strong Sales Volume
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT