Amaravati: The Central Government has approved a second six-month extension for Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad, allowing the 1991-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer to continue in the state’s highest bureaucratic position until May 31, 2027.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), under the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, issued the approval following a proposal submitted by the Andhra Pradesh government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Mr Sai Prasad, who assumed charge as Chief Secretary at the end of February 2026, had earlier received a six-month extension until November 30, 2026. The latest decision grants him another six months in office, ensuring continuity in the state’s senior administrative leadership.
The officer has served for more than three decades in the IAS, holding key assignments in district administration, power, land administration, water resources and the Chief Minister’s Office. His educational background includes engineering studies at Andhra University and IIT Delhi, followed by postgraduate studies in development policy at Duke University in the United States.
Centre Approves Second Extension Following State Government’s Request
The latest extension was approved after the Andhra Pradesh government approached the Centre seeking permission to retain Mr Sai Prasad as Chief Secretary beyond November 30, 2026.
The State government submitted its request on September 29, 2026, proposing another six-month extension in his service.
Following consideration of the proposal, the DoPT communicated the Central Government’s approval to the Principal Secretary of Andhra Pradesh’s General Administration (Political) Department.
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The communication was issued by Union government Under Secretary Rajesh Kumar Yadav, confirming that Mr Sai Prasad could continue as Chief Secretary until May 31, 2027.
The approval enables the State government to retain its incumbent Chief Secretary for another six months beyond the previously approved period.
Earlier Extension Had Kept Him in Office Until November 2026
Mr Prasad had originally been due to retire on May 31, 2026, according to the earlier extension reports.
In May 2026, the Central Government approved his first six-month extension, covering the period from June 1 to November 30, 2026.
With the latest approval, his service as Chief Secretary has now been extended for a further six months, from December 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027.
This means the senior IAS officer has received two consecutive six-month extensions in 2026.
The decision is expected to provide continuity in the State government’s administrative leadership, particularly as Mr Sai Prasad has extensive experience in departments handling infrastructure, power, land and water resources.
When Did G. Sai Prasad Become Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary?
Mr Sai Prasad succeeded Mr K. Vijayanand as Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh.
His appointment had originally been notified by the State government on November 29, 2025.
He assumed charge at the transition between February 28 and March 1, 2026. While some reports identify February 28 as the handover date, March 1, 2026, is cited as the formal commencement of his tenure.
Before his appointment as Chief Secretary, he served as Special Chief Secretary of the Water Resources Department and Ex-Officio Special Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister.
His elevation placed him at the head of the State’s civil administration, responsible for coordinating the work of government departments, facilitating policy implementation and advising the political executive on major administrative matters.
G. Sai Prasad: From a Schoolteacher’s Family to Andhra Pradesh’s Top Bureaucratic Post
Guttapalli Sai Prasad, popularly known as G. Sai Prasad, is a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre.
Born on May 6, 1966, in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh, he comes from a family with an educational background. His father was a schoolteacher.
Over more than three decades in public service, he has built experience in district administration, infrastructure, electricity distribution, water resources, land administration and senior government coordination.
He has been described in profiles of his career as a soft-spoken, hardworking and people-oriented administrator, with an emphasis on ensuring that government policies benefit ordinary citizens, particularly disadvantaged communities.
His career includes more than 30 postings across different administrative responsibilities.
Educational Background: Engineering at Andhra University and IIT Delhi
Mr Sai Prasad has an academic background combining engineering, technology and international development policy.
He completed his Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, between 1983 and 1987.
He subsequently pursued a Master of Technology in Integrated Electronics and Circuits at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, during 1987–1988.
He later studied in the United States, obtaining a Master of Arts in International Development Policy from Duke University between 1998 and 2000.
His professional affiliations include fellowship of the Institution of Engineers (India) and the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers.
The combination of technical education and development policy studies has accompanied a career involving infrastructure administration, public utilities and government policy implementation.
Early IAS Career: From Warangal to Kurnool and Chittoor
After joining the IAS in 1991, Mr Prasad began his administrative career as Assistant Collector in Warangal, then part of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
He subsequently held several field-level administrative responsibilities, including serving as Collector and District Magistrate of Kurnool and Chittoor.
These assignments gave him experience in district administration, implementation of government schemes, revenue matters and coordination among departments.
His early career established a foundation for later responsibilities at the State Secretariat and in major infrastructure-related departments.
Experience in Power and Energy Administration
An important part of Mr Sai Prasad’s administrative career has been his involvement in the electricity and power sectors.
He served as Chairman and Managing Director of both the Eastern and Central Power Distribution Companies of Andhra Pradesh.
These assignments placed him in senior management positions in electricity distribution, involving public utility administration, operational oversight and coordination of power-sector activities.
He also served on Central deputation as Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Power between 2011 and 2014.
The Central Government assignment provided him with experience in national-level power administration and policy coordination.
His work in the sector formed a significant part of his career before he returned to prominent responsibilities in the Andhra Pradesh government.
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu
Between 2014 and 2019, Mr Sai Prasad served as Principal Secretary to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
During this period, he worked closely with the Chief Minister’s Office, handling high-level administrative coordination and government priorities.
The position involved working across departments and facilitating the implementation of decisions taken by the State’s political leadership.
His experience in the Chief Minister’s Office subsequently became an important element of his senior administrative career.
Senior Roles in Land Administration and Water Resources
In the years preceding his appointment as Chief Secretary, Mr Sai Prasad held important positions in land and water resources administration.
He served as Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA), a senior position associated with revenue and land administration in the State.
He also held the post of Special Chief Secretary in the Water Resources Department, where responsibilities relate to irrigation, water management and major water infrastructure programmes.
Additionally, he served as Ex-Officio Special Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister.
These assignments placed him in positions involving coordination of departments and programmes central to Andhra Pradesh’s administrative and development priorities.
He was serving in these senior capacities before taking over as Chief Secretary in early 2026.
Why His Second Extension Matters for Andhra Pradesh
The Chief Secretary is the highest-ranking civil servant in the State government and plays a central role in coordinating administration across departments.
The position involves advising the Chief Minister and Cabinet, facilitating interdepartmental coordination and overseeing implementation of major government decisions.
By retaining Mr Sai Prasad until May 31, 2027, the Andhra Pradesh government will continue with the same senior bureaucratic leadership for another six months beyond the previously approved extension.
The decision also reflects the State government’s preference for administrative continuity under an officer who has previously worked in the Chief Minister’s Office and held major portfolios involving power, land and water resources.
The extension comes after his original scheduled retirement on May 31, 2026. With two consecutive six-month extensions, he is now authorised to remain in service for a total of one year beyond that original date
G. Sai Prasad’s Career at a Glance
- Service: Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
- Batch: 1991
- Cadre: Andhra Pradesh
- Date of Birth: May 6, 1966
- Birthplace: Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh
- Family Background: Son of a schoolteacher
Educational Qualifications:
- B.E. in Electronics and Communication Engineering, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam (1983–1987)
- M.Tech. in Integrated Electronics and Circuits, IIT Delhi (1987–1988)
- M.A. in International Development Policy, Duke University, USA (1998–2000)
- Professional Affiliations: Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India) and the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers
- Early IAS Career: Began as Assistant Collector in Warangal, undivided Andhra Pradesh
- District Administration: Served as Collector and District Magistrate of Kurnool and Chittoor
- Power Sector: Served as Chairman and Managing Director of the Eastern and Central Power Distribution Companies of Andhra Pradesh
- Central Deputation: Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Power (2011–2014)
- Chief Minister’s Office: Principal Secretary to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu (2014–2019)
- Other Key Positions: Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA), Special Chief Secretary of Water Resources, and Ex-Officio Special Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister
- Current Position: Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh
- Predecessor: K. Vijayanand
- Assumed Charge: February 28, 2026, with formal tenure beginning March 1, 2026
- Original Retirement Date: May 31, 2026
- First Service Extension: June 1 to November 30, 2026
- Second Service Extension: December 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027
- Latest Tenure Approval: Central Government approval through the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), following the Andhra Pradesh government’s request dated September 29, 2026
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