The present Chief Secretary of Karnataka Rajneesh Goel, IAS officer of 1986 batch is retiring on July 31 and the race for the next CS has become extremely intense. Additional Chief Secretary to government, Shalini Rajneesh, an IAS officer of 1989 batch is said to be ahead in the race. Incidentally, Shalini Rajneesh happens to be the wife of Rajneesh Goel, the present Chief Secretary. The next candidate under consideration is Ajai Seth, 1987 batch officer, who is on deputation to the centre. Presently, he is holding the post of the Secretary, Department of Economics till June 30, 2025. If Shalini Rajneesh becomes the CS, she would continue till June 30, 2027.