Amaravati, December 31:
K. Vijayanand took charge as the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday evening in a formal ceremony held at the State Secretariat, conducted amidst the blessings of Vedic scholars. He succeeded Neerab Kumar Prasad, who retired from the post on Tuesday. Vijayanand’s appointment as the Chief Secretary was formalized by the state government’s General Administration Department (GAD) through GO RT No. 2209 issued on December 29.
Belonging to the 1992 IAS batch, Vijayanand began his administrative career in 1993 as an Assistant Collector in the undivided Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh. Between 1996 and 2007, he served as Sub-Collector of Rampachodavaram, Project Director of Rural Development, and Joint Collector in Rangareddy, Srikakulam, and Nalgonda districts. Later, he held pivotal roles, including State Project Director for Planning and Program Implementation (2007-2008) and Joint Managing Director of AP Transco (2008-2009).
From 2016 to 2019, Vijayanand held dual roles as the Managing Director of AP Genco and Chairman and Managing Director of AP Transco. Between 2019 and 2021, he served as the Chief Electoral Officer & Ex-Officio Principal Secretary, overseeing critical election processes. In 2023, he became the Special Chief Secretary of the Energy Department, along with additional responsibilities as Chairman of APGENCO, APSPDCL, NREDCAP, and APSECM. He also served as the Chairperson of the Southern Regional Power Committee (SRPC) for 2023-24.
Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Vijayanand played a key role in formulating and notifying the Andhra Pradesh Integrated Clean Energy Policy-2024, aimed at transforming the state into a global clean energy hub with over 160 GW of renewable energy capacity. This landmark policy is projected to attract investments worth ₹10 lakh crore, generating approximately 750,000 direct and indirect jobs. By focusing on solar, wind, hybrid resources, and green hydrogen, the policy positions Andhra Pradesh as a major contributor to India’s renewable energy goals and economic self-reliance.
Vijayanand’s expertise in the power sector spans over 14 years, marked by innovative leadership and strategic planning that have significantly enhanced the state’s energy infrastructure and capacity.
During the ceremony, outgoing Chief Secretary Neerab Kumar Prasad congratulated Vijayanand by presenting him with a bouquet. Vijayanand reciprocated the gesture by honoring Prasad for his distinguished service.
The event was attended by prominent officials, including Special Chief Secretaries G. Sai Prasad and M.T. Krishna Babu, TTD EO Shyamala Rao, GAD Secretary S. Suresh Kumar, and other departmental heads, secretariat officials, and employee representatives, who extended their best wishes to the newly appointed Chief Secretary.
