Yadav ser to succeed Atal Dulloo from Nov 1
Srinagar, Oct, 24:The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday appointed Dr. Sajjan Singh Yadav, a 1995-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, as the new Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, opting for a senior bureaucrat serving in Delhi to head the Union Territory’s administration.
The appointment order, issued on October 24 with the approval of the competent authority, transfers Yadav from Delhi to Jammu and Kashmir and posts him as Chief Secretary with effect from November 1, 2026, or the date he assumes charge, whichever is later. He will succeed Atal Dulloo, a 1989-batch IAS officer scheduled to retire on October 31.
The decision settles the succession to the top bureaucratic post in Jammu and Kashmir, amid speculation over whether Dulloo would receive an extension or the Centre would select another senior officer from the cadre. The government has instead chosen Yadav, who has been serving as Additional Chief Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Delhi Jal Board.
Yadav’s appointment is significant as he has not previously served in Jammu and Kashmir, despite belonging to the AGMUT cadre, which covers Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories. He will be the first AGMUT cadre officer to head the Union Territory’s bureaucracy.
Yadav brings extensive experience in central government administration, particularly in financial management. During his central deputation, he held senior positions in the Ministry of Finance, including Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary and Special Secretary.
Before his latest assignment, he served as Additional Chief Secretary and CEO of the Delhi Jal Board, a position he assumed in June 2026. His administrative career has also included assignments in other Union ministries and government departments, as well as postings in different states and Union Territories.
His appointment places an officer with substantial experience in central administration at the head of Jammu and Kashmir’s bureaucracy, which coordinates the functioning of government departments and implementation of policy decisions across the Union Territory.
Dulloo took over as Chief Secretary on December 1, 2023. A Jammu and Kashmir cadre officer, he had served in several key positions in the erstwhile state and Union Territory, including district administration and senior departmental assignments, before being appointed to the top post.
Before moving to the Chief Secretary’s office, Dulloo served as Secretary, Border Management, in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. His tenure as Chief Secretary is due to end with his retirement on October 31.
The Chief Secretary’s office remains central to coordination between departments and execution of administrative decisions.
Born on January 5, 1969, Yadav has an MBA in Finance from the University of Delhi and postgraduate qualifications in public administration and public policy, including a degree from Harvard University and a qualification from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
Beyond government service, he has written on public health and civil service careers. His book India’s Vaccine Growth Story: From Cowpox to Vaccine traces the evolution of India’s vaccine ecosystem, while Scaling Mount UPSC: 7 IAS Officers’ Journeys documents the experiences of civil servants who cleared the Civil Services Examination.
Yadav’s appointment takes effect from November 1, or the date he assumes charge, whichever is later. The formal transition will follow Dulloo’s scheduled retirement at the end of October.
