After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, several IAS and IPS officers assigned to the newly formed Telugu states had not yet relocated to their designated posts. However, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) recently issued a directive requiring these officers to finally report to their respective states, a decade after the division. Despite appeals to the Central Administrative Tribunal and Telangana High Court, the officers’ requests were denied, leading to their transfer to the states they were assigned. In response, the Andhra Pradesh government is now gradually providing official postings to those IAS officers who have arrived.
Amidst these transitions, senior IAS officer Ronald Ross, who recently moved from Telangana to Andhra Pradesh, has been appointed to a crucial role as the state’s Finance Secretary. With the responsibility of overseeing budget management and financial operations, Ross is now the most senior officer among those transferred from Telangana to hold such a vital position. After reporting to the state last month as per DoPT’s instructions, he has now assumed this important role.
As the Andhra Pradesh Assembly budget session commences, the state government is dealing with a significant financial shortfall. With Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav presenting his first budget, the timing of Ronald Ross’s appointment as Finance Secretary is particularly critical. His expertise in managing budgetary affairs will play a key role in navigating the financial challenges facing the state in the coming months.