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{{Short description|Diplomat and IAS officer, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Rajesh Khullar
| honorific_suffix = [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]]
| education = [[Harvard Kennedy School]], [[National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies|GRIPS]], [[Panjab University]]
| birth_place = [[Ambala]], [[Haryana]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1963|8|31}}
| occupation = [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS Officer]]
| office1 = [[Principal secretary (India)|Chief Principal Secretary]] to [[List of Chief Ministers of Haryana|Chief Minister, Haryana]]
| term_start1 = 1 September 2023
| office2 = [[Executive Director]] at [[World Bank Group]]
| president2 = [[David Malpass]]
| deputy2 = [[Rajeev Topno]]
| term_start2 = 1 November 2020
| term_end2 = 31 March 2023
| office3 = [[Principal secretary (India)|Principal Secretary]] to [[List of Chief Ministers of Haryana|Chief Minister, Haryana]]
| term_start3 = 15 November 2015
| term_end3 = 30 October 2020
| office4 = [[Joint Secretary]] at [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Department of Economic Affairs]]
| term_start4 = 9 February 2011
| term_end4 = 26 February 2015
| 1blankname1 = Prime Minister
| 1namedata1 = [[Narendra Modi]]
| 2blankname1 = Chief Minister
| 2namedata1 = [[Manohar Lal Khattar]], [[Nayab Singh Saini]]
| 1blankname3 = Prime Minister
| 1namedata3 = [[Narendra Modi]]
| 2blankname3 = Chief Minister
| 2namedata3 = [[Manohar Lal Khattar]]
| 1blankname4 = Prime Minister
| 1namedata4 = [[Manmohan Singh]], [[Narendra Modi]]
| 2blankname4 = Minister
| 2namedata4 = [[Pranab Mukherjee]], [[P Chidambaram]], [[Arun Jaitley]]
| image = Rajesh Khullar, World Bank Executive Director.jpg
}}

'''Rajesh Khullar''' (born 31 August 1963) is a high-ranking Indian official and [[Principal secretary (India)|Chief Principal Secretary]] to [[List of Chief Ministers of Haryana|Chief Minister, Haryana]].<ref name=":khattar-aide">{{Cite news|last=Sura|first=Ajay|date=19 Oct 2024|title=Khattar's Trusted Aide is Back to Steer Haryana CMO|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/rajesh-khullar-appointed-chief-principal-secretary-in-haryana-khattars-key-ally-returns-to-cmo/articleshow/114362168.cms|access-date=18 November 2024|website=[[Times of India]]|publication-place=[[Chandigarh]]}}</ref><ref name=":cpscm">{{Cite news|author=|date=1 September 2023|title=Haryana: Rajesh Khullar New Chief Principal Secretary to CM|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/haryana-government-appoints-rajesh-khullar-as-chief-principal-secretary-to-cm-bringing-agility-in-administration-101693562515714.html|access-date=1 September 2023|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=23379369}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=|first=|date= 19 October 2024 |title=Haryana: Rajesh Khullar Appointed Chief Principal Secretary to CM |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/haryana-rajesh-khullar-appointed-chief-principal-secretary-to-cm-101729279945406.html |access-date=12 February 2025|website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> Known as “Haryana’s [[Chanakya]],” Khullar's quiet statecraft has long shaped the state’s political calculus, anchoring him at the centre of power.<ref>{{Cite web|author=PTI|date=18 October 2024|title=Rajesh Khullar Gets Important Responsibility in Nayab Saini's Sarkar Part 2 |url=https://impressivetimes.com/national/news-2804/|access-date=19 January 2025|website=The Impressive Times|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=}}</ref><ref name=":21depts">{{Cite web|last=Gayatri|first=Geetanjali|title=With 21 Key Departments at CMO, Khullar Emerges All-Powerful |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/with-21-key-depts-at-cmo-khullar-emerges-all-powerful/ |access-date=12 February 2025|website=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref> Previously, he served on the board of the [[World Bank Group]] as [[India]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Bhutan]], and [[Sri Lanka|Sri Lanka's]] representative. Khullar belongs to the [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]], India's elite civil service, tasked with commanding policy, governance, and administration nationwide.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author= |date=14 September 2020 |title=Haryana IAS officer Rajesh Khullar appointed Executive Director, World Bank |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/haryana-ias-officer-rajesh-khullar-appointed-executive-director-world-bank/story-4WbKloD5HnH1Ruml8oPu9M.html |access-date=20 December 2020 |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |publication-place=[[Chandigarh]] |oclc=23379369}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Saini |first=Manvir |date=15 November 2015 |title=Khullar is New Principal Secretary to Haryana CM |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Khullar-is-new-principal-secretary-to-Haryana-CM/articleshow/49786972.cms |access-date=15 December 2019 |website=[[The Times of India]] |publication-place=[[Chandigarh]] |oclc=23379369}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=17 September 2019 |title=Chandigarh: HSIIDC signs MoU with SIDB for funding MSMEs |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/chandigarh-hsiidc-signs-mou-with-sidb-for-funding-msmes-119091701117_1.html |access-date=15 December 2019 |website=[[Business Standard]] |publication-place=[[Chandigarh]] |oclc=23379369}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Khullar was born on 31 August 1963 in [[Ambala Cantonment]], [[India]], where his father was detailed as an officer of the [[Indian Army]]. He earned his bachelor's degree from [[Kurukshetra University]] at the age of 17. He went on to receive a [[Master of Science|Master of Science (MSc)]] in Physics, graduating with a [[gold medal]] from [[Panjab University]]. Khullar was pursuing a [[Master of Engineering|Master of Technology (MTech)]] at [[IIT Delhi|Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi]] when he joined the [[Indian Police Service]] (IPS) in 1987, assigned to the [[Maharashtra]] cadre. While training at [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy|National Police Academy]], [[Hyderabad]], he joined the [[Indian Administrative Service]] (IAS) with [[Haryana]] cadre in 1988. Khullar also holds a [[Master of Public Administration]] degree from [[National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies|GRIPS]], [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]] and an Executive Development Program diploma from [[Harvard Kennedy School]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=November 2013|url=http://www.grips.ac.jp/en/alumni/almo/pastalmo/almos2013/13-11/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=15 December 2019|website=[[National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies]]}}</ref> He speaks Punjabi, Hindi, English and Japanese.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=GRIPS - Some Prominent Alumni|url=http://www.grips.ac.jp/en/alumni/index/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=15 December 2019|website=[[National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies]]}}</ref>
[[File:Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar and Shri Rajesh Khullar.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|310x310px|Khullar (left) with the 14th [[Vice President of India]], [[Jagdeep Dhankhar]] (right) at the [[Vice President's Enclave|Vice President's Residence]] in [[New Delhi]] on 9 February 2024]]

== Career ==
As a career bureaucrat, Khullar has served in various capacities in both [[Government of India]] and [[Government of Haryana]]. These include [[Joint secretary to the Government of India|Joint Secretary]] ([[Ministry of Finance (India)|Department of Economic Affairs]], [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Ministry of Finance]]),<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Rajesh Khullar - Executive Record Sheet|url=https://supremo.nic.in/ERSheetHtml.aspx?OffIDErhtml=14979&PageId=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=15 December 2019|website=Department of Personnel and Training, [[Government of India]]}}</ref><ref name=":ggn">{{Cite web|last=Joseph|first=Joel|date=6 February 2011|title=MCG All Set for New Commissioner|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/MCG-all-set-for-new-commissioner/articleshow/7434184.cms|access-date=12 December 2019|website=[[The Times of India]]|publication-place=[[Gurgaon]]|oclc=23379369}}</ref> Home Secretary ([[Haryana]]),<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=29 Nov 2019|title=Khattar's Aides are Now Admn Secys of Vij's Depts|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/khattar-s-aides-are-now-admn-secys-of-vij-s-depts/story-65goGvIMpe8L07RWm2WlEK.html|access-date=20 December 2019|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|publication-place=[[Chandigarh]]|oclc=}}</ref> [[Municipal Commissioner]] ([[Gurgaon]] and [[Faridabad]])<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ahuja|first=Sanjeev|date=10 Aug 2009|title='I don't know who runs this city; maybe God does'|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/i-don-t-know-who-runs-this-city-maybe-god-does/story-iKkxVxF4Yef03DyhMPxkUM.html|access-date=18 November 2019|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|publication-place=[[Chandigarh]]|oclc=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Joseph|first=Joel|date=29 December 2010|title=Khullar Gets Transferred, MCG to Get a New Boss This New Year|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/Khullar-gets-transferred-MCG-to-get-a-new-boss-this-new-year/articleshow/7181119.cms|access-date=18 December 2019|website=[[The Times of India]]|publication-place=[[Gurgaon]]|oclc=23379369}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kalia|first=Vikas|date=8 July 2007|title=Faridabad Gears Up for Commonwealth Games|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/faridabad-gears-up-for-cwealth-games/articleshow/2185688.cms?from=mdr|access-date=11 December 2019|website=[[The Economic Times]]|publication-place=[[Faridabad]]|oclc=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=PTI|date=16 October 2008|title=Gurgaon to have waste management plant|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/infrastructure/gurgaon-to-have-waste-management-plant/articleshow/3605146.cms|access-date=25 February 2022|website=[[The Economic Times]]|publication-place=[[Gurgaon]]|oclc=}}</ref> and [[District Magistrate]] ([[Sonipat]] and [[Rohtak]]) among others.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Jatinder|date=21 March 2001|title=HBVN Scheme Finds Few Takers|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010322/haryana.htm|access-date=14 December 2019|website=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]|publication-place=[[Chandigarh]]|oclc=}}</ref>
[[File:The_Joint_Secretary,_Department_of_Economic_Affairs,_Shri_Rajesh_Khullar_and_the_Ambassador_of_Japan_to_India.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|310x310px|Khullar (right) with the Ambassador of [[Japan]] to [[India]], Takeshi Yagi (left) on the signing of the [[Official Development Assistance (Japan)|Official Development Assistance]] agreement worth ¥30 billion in [[New Delhi]] on 12 November 2013]]

===Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance===
In February 2011, Khullar was appointed [[Joint secretary to the Government of India|Joint Secretary]], [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Department of Economic Affairs]], [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Ministry of Finance]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=PTI|date=16 January 2015|title=Japan commits Rs 2,620-cr development loan assistance to India|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/infrastructure/japan-commits-rs-2620-cr-development-loan-assistance-to-india/articleshow/45914995.cms|access-date=15 May 2021|website=[[The Economic Times]]|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=PTI|date=18 December 2014|title=India signs 625 million euro loan agreement with Germany|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-signs-625-million-euro-loan-agreement-with-germany/articleshow/45560959.cms|access-date=15 October 2021|website=[[The Economic Times]]|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=PTI|date=31 March 2014|title=Japan to give Rs 15000 crore ODA for Delhi Metro, 4 other projects|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/japan-to-give-rs-15000-crore-oda-for-delhi-metro-4-other-projects/articleshow/33030419.cms|access-date=19 June 2021|website=[[The Economic Times]]|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=}}</ref> He helped formulate India's Public Private Partnership and Land Monetization policies, developed the structure of India's infrastructure debt funds, and signed key bilateral agreements as Joint Secretary.<ref name=":dea">{{Cite web|author=Express News Service|date=15 September 2020|title=Haryana IAS Rajesh Khullar Appointed Executive Director of World Bank|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/haryana-rajesh-khullar-appointed-executive-director-world-bank-6596920/|access-date=13 June 2021|website=[[The Indian Express]]|publication-place=[[Chandigarh]]|oclc=70274541}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=PTI|date=29 January 2014|title=Japan extends Rs 1,336 crore loan to IIT-Hyderabad|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/education/japan-extends-rs-1336-crore-loan-to-iit-hyderabad/articleshow/29567536.cms|access-date=19 June 2021|website=[[The Economic Times]]|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=PTI|date=12 November 2013|title=Japan to give Rs 1,958 crore loan assistance to India|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/japan-to-give-rs-1958-crore-loan-assistance-to-india/articleshow/25641086.cms|access-date=23 July 2021|website=[[The Economic Times]]|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=}}</ref> Khullar demitted office in February 2015 following his repatriation to the state cadre at the request of the newly formed [[Bharatiya Janata Party|Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)]] government in Haryana, the first of its kind in the state's history.<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{Cite web|author=PTI|date=17 September 2013|title=JICA to provide Rs 4700 cr loan for Mumbai Metro Line-3 project|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/jica-to-provide-rs-4700-cr-loan-for-mumbai-metro-line-3-project/articleshow/22665039.cms|access-date=24 August 2021|website=[[The Economic Times]]|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=PTI|date=17 September 2013|title=Mumbai Metro gets Rs 4700 crore loan boost from Japan|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/mumbai-metro-gets-rs-4700-crore-loan-boost-from-japan/articleshow/22656189.cms|access-date=24 August 2021|website=[[The Economic Times]]|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=PTI|date=6 June 2013|title=India, Germany sign umbrella pact on energy, environment|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/india-germany-sign-umbrella-pact-on-energy-environment/articleshow/20465731.cms|access-date=19 January 2022|website=[[The Economic Times]]|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=PTI|date=22 February 2013|title=Japan International Cooperation Agency extends Rs 1,350 crore loan for Bihar Buddhist Circuit Road|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/infrastructure/japan-international-cooperation-agency-extends-rs-1350-crore-loan-for-bihar-buddhist-circuit-road/articleshow/18626953.cms|access-date=19 January 2022|website=[[The Economic Times]]|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=}}</ref>[[File:The Joint Secretary (BC), Department of Economic Affairs, Shri Rajesh Khullar and the Director for Asia and Latin America.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|310x310px|Khullar (left) with the Director for Asia and Latin America, Francisco de. Paula Coelho (right) on the signing of €200 million loan between [[European Investment Bank]] and the Department of Economic Affairs in [[New Delhi]] on 29 April 2014]]

===Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Haryana===
In November 2015, Khullar was appointed [[Principal secretary (India)|Principal Secretary]] to [[List of Chief Ministers of Haryana|Chief Minister, Haryana]].<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/in-major-reshuffle-six-officers-shifted-158221|title=In Major Reshuffle, Six Officers Shifted|last=Gayatri|first=Geetanjali|date=14 November 2015|website=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]|publication-place=[[Chandigarh]]|oclc=|access-date=14 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Joseph|first=Joel|date=28 September 2016|title=It's official! Gurgaon will henceforth be called Gurugram|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/its-officialgurgaonwill-henceforth-be-calledgurugram/articleshow/54558715.cms|access-date=23 February 2022|website=[[The Economic Times]]|publication-place=[[Gurgaon]]|oclc=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=PTI|date=22 December 2015|title=China's Wanda Group likely to invest US$ 1 billion in Haryana|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/chinas-wanda-group-likely-to-invest-us-1-billion-in-haryana/articleshow/50287418.cms|access-date=13 January 2021|website=[[The Economic Times]]|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=}}</ref> He also served as the [[Chairman]] of [[Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation]] (HSIIDC) and [[Haryana Financial Corporation]].<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Krar|first=Prashant|date=4 May 2020|title=Haryana to woo companies keen to move from China|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/haryana-to-woo-companies-keen-to-move-from-china/articleshow/75539325.cms|access-date=23 December 2020|website=[[The Economic Times]]|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Haidar|first=Faizan|date=7 October 2020|title=Flipkart acquires 140-acre land at Rs 432 crore, to develop logistic park|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/property-/-cstruction/flipkart-acquires-140-acre-land-at-rs-432-crore-to-develop-logistic-park/articleshow/78535245.cms|access-date=22 September 2021|website=[[The Economic Times]]|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=}}</ref> In Haryana, Khullar inspired farmers to conserve water, promoted the use of digital governance tools, and designed schemes to curb female foeticide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/environment/story/20060807-charcoal-produced-from-wild-babool-in-kutch-gujarat-782629-2006-08-07|title=Gujarat Government Legalised the Business of Making Charcoal from Wild Babool|last=Mahurkar|first=Uday|date=7 August 2006|website=India Today|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=14 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100813/haryana.htm|title=Gurgaon MC to Tighten Noose on Cattle Owners|last=Dhawan|first=Sunit|date=12 August 2010|website=The Tribune|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=14 December 2019}}</ref> He demitted office in October 2020 upon his appointment as [[Executive Director]] at the [[World Bank Group]] by the [[Appointments Committee of the Cabinet]] (ACC), chaired by the [[Prime Minister of India]].<ref name=":ds">{{Cite web|last=Saini|first=Manvir|date=19 October 2020|title=Haryana Follows Punjab, DS Dhesi Appointed Chief Principal Secretary to CM|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/haryana-follows-punjab-ds-dhesi-appointed-chief-principal-secretary-to-cm/articleshow/78748992.cms|access-date=11 December 2020|website=[[The Times of India]]|publication-place=[[Chandigarh]]|oclc=23379369}}</ref>
[[File:Banga Khullar.jpg|alt=|right|thumb|310x310px|Khullar (left) with the 14th [[President of the World Bank Group|World Bank Group President]] and former Vice Chairman at [[General Atlantic]], [[Ajay Banga]] (right) at the [[World Bank Group]] headquarters in Washington, D.C., on 1 March 2023]]

===Executive Director, World Bank Group===
In September 2020, Khullar was appointed [[Executive Director]] at the [[World Bank Group]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=PTI|date=14 September 2020|title=Senior bureaucrat Rajesh Khullar appointed Executive Director, World Bank |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/senior-bureaucrat-rajesh-khullar-appointed-executive-director-world-bank/articleshow/78107327.cms|access-date=19 June 2021|website=[[The Economic Times]]|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=}}</ref> He chaired the [[World Bank Group|World Bank Group's]] Committee on Development Effectiveness (CODE) and was a member of the [[Global Environment Facility]] council, where he represented [[Nepal]] and [[Maldives]] in addition to [[India]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Bhutan]] and [[Sri Lanka]].<ref name=":wb">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Executive Director: EDS12, Executive Directors|url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/people/r/rajesh-khullar|access-date=13 January 2022|website=[[World Bank Group]]|publication-place=|oclc=}}</ref><ref name=":pr">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=World Bank Accountability Mechanism Issues Interim Operating Procedures for the Dispute Resolution Service|url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2021/10/13/world-bank-accountability-mechanism-issues-interim-operating-procedures-for-the-dispute-resolution-service|access-date=13 January 2022|website=[[World Bank Group]]|publication-place=Washington, D.C.|oclc=}}</ref> As Executive Director, Khullar instituted a new policy for the [[Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman|Compliance Advisor Ombudsman]] to strengthen environmental and social accountability for the [[International Finance Corporation]] and [[Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=New CAO Policy Enhances IFC and MIGA Environmental and Social Accountability|url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2021/07/01/new-cao-policy-enhances-ifc-and-miga-environmental-and-social-accountability|access-date=13 January 2023|website=[[World Bank Group]]|publication-place=Washington, D.C.|oclc=}}</ref> He also led a group of 29 countries to pledge $5.3 billion for the [[Global Environmental Facility]] to tackle [[climate change]] and biodiversity loss.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=8 April 2022|title=Countries pledge record support to the Global Environment Facility|url=https://www.thegef.org/newsroom/press-releases/countries-pledge-record-support-global-environment-facility|access-date=25 March 2023|website=[[Global Environmental Facility]]|publication-place=Washington, D.C.|oclc=}}</ref> He was recalled to India in March 2023, six months before the end of his term, in preparation for the parliamentary and state elections in 2024. [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] won both elections that year.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=10 October 2023|title=IAS officer Rajesh Khullar Set to Return to Haryana|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/ias-officer-rajesh-khullar-return-haryana-8457285/|access-date=4 July 2024|website=[[The Indian Express]]|publication-place=Chandigarh|oclc=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=8 February 2024|title=Haryana CM Khattar's Confidant Rajesh Khullar Gets More Power With 18 Departments|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/haryana-cm-khattar-s-confidant-rajesh-khullar-gets-more-power-with-18-depts-588445|access-date=4 July 2024|website=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]|publication-place=Chandigarh|oclc=}}</ref><ref name=":mostpowerful">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=9 February 2024|title=What Makes Rajesh Khullar, ex-IAS Officer, the Most Powerful Bureaucrat in Haryana|url=https://theprint.in/india/governance/what-makes-rajesh-khullar-ex-ias-officer-the-most-powerful-bureaucrat-in-haryana/1960396/|access-date=4 July 2024|website=[[ThePrint]]|publication-place=Chandigarh|oclc=}}</ref>

[[File:Rajesh Khullar with Nirmala Sitharaman at IMF World Bank Spring Meetings 2022.png|alt=|left|thumb|310x310px|Khullar (left) with the 30th [[Minister of Finance (India)|Finance Minister of India]], [[Nirmala Sitharaman]] (right) at the [[International Monetary Fund]] headquarters in Washington, D.C., on 20 April 2022]]

===Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Haryana===
Due to superannuate from the [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]] on 31 August 2023, Khullar was appointed Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Haryana the following day, a position specially created for him.<ref name=":cpscm" /><ref name=":khattar-aide" /> When [[Manohar Lal Khattar]] was replaced by [[Nayab Singh Saini]] in March 2024, Khullar continued in the role, with commentators describing him as the de facto head of the state.<ref name=":khattar-aide" /> Such was his political influence that during the [[2024 Indian general election]] campaign, the [[Rahul Gandhi]]-led [[Indian National Congress]] petitioned the [[Election Commission of India]] to have him reassigned, a request the Commission did not act upon.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Siwach|first=Sukhbir|date=1 April 2024|title=Haryana Congress to EC: Remove Saini's Chief Principal Secretary|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/haryana-congress-to-ec-remove-sainis-chief-principal-secy-9242800/|access-date=18 April 2026|website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> Following [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]'s victory in 2024, Khullar was reappointed Chief Principal Secretary in the new government, with 21 departments placed under him, including Finance, Home, Energy, Revenue, and Industries and Commerce, along with overall charge of the Chief Minister's office and of legislative business before the Council of Ministers.<ref name=":21depts" /> He is widely regarded as the true seat of power in Haryana.<ref name=":mostpowerful"></ref>

[[File:John Kerry with Rajesh Khullar.jpg|alt=|right|thumb|310x310px|Khullar (right) with the former [[U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate]] and [[United States Secretary of State]], [[John Kerry]] (left) at [[Embassy of India, Washington, D.C.|India House, Washington, D.C.]], on 14 October 2021]]

==Recognition==
In 2009, Khullar was conferred an ''Award of Excellence'' under [[Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission]] (JNNURM) for creating India's first social safety umbrella which included savings accounts, insurance, public conveniences and night shelters.<ref name=":ubi">{{Cite web|url=https://www.unionbankofindia.co.in/pdf/AnnualReport201112.pdf|title=Union Bank of India Annual Report|last=|first=|date=2012|website=[[Union Bank of India]]|publisher=|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=|access-date=28 November 2019}}</ref>

In 2011, Khullar was recognized for developing [[Aravali Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon]], which was declared India's first OECM (Other Effective Conservation Measures) site in February 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ahuja| first=Sanjeev|date=14 July 2010|title=MCG outsources fencing work of Biodiversity Park|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/mcg-outsources-fencing-work-of-biodiversity-park/story-MJz8oTLeDMkZTLPePY2IlL.html|access-date=28 February 2022|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|publication-place=[[Gurgaon]]|oclc=23379369}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.myliveablecity.com/article/detail/one-sapling-at-a-time/free|title=One Sapling at a Time|last=Thukral|first=Latika|date=July 2014|website=My Liveable City|publisher=|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=|access-date=28 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.conservationindia.org/articles/forest-in-a-city-making-of-the-aravalli-biodiversity-park-abp-gurgaon|title=Rewilding in a City; Making of the Aravali Biodiversity Park|last=Dhasmana|first=Vijay|date=January 2020|website=Conservation India|publisher=|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|oclc=|access-date=28 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Roy|first=Suparna|date= 3 February 2022|title=Aravali Biodiversity Park in Gurugram declared as India's first OECM site|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/gurugram-news/aravalli-biodiversity-park-in-gurugram-declared-as-india-s-first-oecm-site-101643834401345.html|access-date=28 February 2022|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|publication-place=[[Gurgaon]]|oclc=23379369}}</ref>

In 2019, Khullar was named in Asia Post's list of top officers in India along with [[Ajay Kumar Bhalla]], former [[Home Secretary (India)]] and [[Ajay Kumar (civil servant)|Ajay Kumar]], former [[Defence Secretary (India)]] who "have created new benchmarks of performance in public service."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://psuwatch.com/here-is-the-list-of-top-50-bureaucrats-surveyed-by-fame-india-asia-post-psu-watch/|title=Here is the list of Top 50 Bureaucrats Surveyed By Fame India, Asia Post & PSU Watch|last=|first=|date=24 September 2019|website=PSU Watch|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=14 December 2019}}</ref>

== Works ==
* ''Viral Match'' (2008) ISBN 9788129112835
* ''Civil Services General Studies Main Examination - A Strategic Approach'' (2004) ISBN 8190214802

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Rajesh Khullar|position=right}}

*{{Commons category-inline|Rajesh Khullar}}
*{{URL|1=https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/people/r/rajesh-khullar|2=Executive profile, as maintained by The World Bank Group}}

{{World Bank}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khullar, Rajesh}}
[[Category:Indian Administrative Service officers]]
[[Category:Indian diplomats]]
[[Category:Panjab University alumni]]
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Rajesh Khullar - Revision history

KathieMuriel714 at 21:02, 4 May 2026