Overview

• Uttar Pradesh formally sought a one-year extension for Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, citing his leadership of the Zero Poverty programme and preparations for the upcoming Global Investors Summit
• Under AIS Rule 16(1), the Centre’s approval is required and its silence persists as Singh approaches his July 31 retirement
• The delay has fueled speculation over potential successors, with Shashi Prakash Goel, Devesh Chaturvedi and Deepak Kumar emerging as frontrunners
• Officials note that the Centre’s pending decision highlights broader centre-state dynamics and follows its earlier refusal to extend DGP Prashant Kumar’s tenure
• State leaders warn that any change at the top could disrupt flagship development initiatives ahead of assembly elections and major investment events