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{{Short description|Indian civil servant}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = V. Venu
| office = Chief Secretary of Kerala
| term_start = 1 July 2023
| term_end = 31 August 2024
| predecessor = V. P. Joy
| successor = Sarada Muraleedharan
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|8|20}}<ref name="IASCivilList">{{cite report |title=IAS Civil List (online) |url=https://gad.kerala.gov.in/sites/default/files/All_india_services/IAS_CIVIL%20LIST-09012024_ONLINE.pdf |publisher=General Administration Department, Government of Kerala |date=9 January 2024 |access-date=25 January 2026 |format=PDF}}</ref>
| spouse = Sarada Muraleedharan<ref name="TNIE2023">{{cite news |title=V Venu to be chief secretary, Shaik Darvesh police chief |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Jun/28/v-venu-to-be-chief-secretary-shaik-darvesh-police-chief-2589163.html |work=The New Indian Express |date=28 June 2023 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref>
| children = 2<ref name="OnmanoramaProfile">{{cite news |title=From Thrissur sub-collector to Kerala's Chief Secretary: All about Dr V Venu's journey so far |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2023/06/27/dr-v-venu-thrissur-sub-collector-kerala-chief-secretary-journey-life-civil-services.html |work=From Thrissur sub-collector to Kerala's Chief Secretary: All about Dr V Venu's journey so far |language=en}}</ref>
| alma_mater = Government Medical College, Kozhikode<ref name="OnmanoramaProfile" />
| profession = Civil servant
}}

'''V. Venu''' (also known as '''Venu Vasudevan'''; born 20 August 1964) is an Indian retired civil servant and former chief secretary of Kerala. He served as the 48th chief secretary of the Government of Kerala from 1 July 2023 to 31 August 2024.<ref name="GADCS">{{cite web |title=Chief Secretaries of Kerala |url=https://gad.kerala.gov.in/index.php/en/chief-secretaries |website=General Administration Department, Government of Kerala |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="Cabinet2023">{{cite web |title=Cabinet Decisions 27-06-2023 |url=https://keralacm.gov.in/?p=2680 |website=Official website of Kerala Chief Minister |date=27 June 2023 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref> He is a 1990-batch officer of the [[Indian Administrative Service]] from the Kerala cadre.<ref name="OnmanoramaProfile" /><ref name="IASCivilList" />

During his career, Venu held senior roles in the Government of Kerala, including additional chief secretary (home and vigilance) and assignments in tourism, culture and disaster recovery, including work associated with the state's ''Rebuild Kerala Initiative'' (RKI).<ref name="TNIE2023" /><ref name="WorldBankRKI">{{cite report |title=The Second Resilient Kerala Development Policy Operation (P170521): Program Information Document (Concept Stage) |url=https://ewsdata.rightsindevelopment.org/files/documents/21/WB-P170521.pdf |publisher=World Bank |date=25 March 2020 |access-date=25 January 2026 |format=PDF}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Venu grew up in Kozhikode, Kerala, and studied there before completing an MBBS from [[Government Medical College, Kozhikode]].<ref name="OnmanoramaProfile" /> He participated in theatre activities during his student years.<ref name="OnmanoramaProfile" />

== Career ==
Venu entered the Indian Administrative Service in 1990 and was allotted the Kerala cadre.<ref name="OnmanoramaProfile" /><ref name="IASCivilList" /> Early in his career, he served as Assistant Collector in Thrissur.<ref name="OnmanoramaProfile" />

=== Tourism and culture ===
Venu later served in senior roles related to Kerala's tourism and cultural administration. He also worked as the director and secretary in the tourism department and as secretary of the culture department, during which the International Theatre Festival of Kerala was launched.<ref name="TNIE2023" /><ref name="IEKBF2024">{{cite news |title=Venu Vasudevan appointed chairperson of Kochi Biennale Foundation |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/venu-vasudevan-appointed-chairperson-of-kochi-biennale-foundation-9584470/ |work=The Indian Express |date=24 September 2024 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="MBIFL2025">{{cite news |title=Dr V Venu appointed Director and Curator of MBIFL 2026 |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/dr-v-venu-appointed-director-and-curator-of-mbifl-2026-wxicwauw |work=Mathrubhumi English |date=31 May 2025 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref>

=== Home and vigilance ===
In 2022, Venu was appointed Home Secretary (Home and Vigilance), with additional charge of the Environment Department.<ref name="TOIHome2022">{{cite news |title=Kerala: V Venu appointed as new home secretary |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/kerala-v-venu-appointed-as-new-home-secretary/articleshow/92449184.cms |work=The Times of India |date=25 June 2022 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref>

=== Rebuild Kerala Initiative ===
Following the 2018 Kerala floods, Venu was the CEO of ''Rebuild Kerala Initiative'' (RKI), associated with the state's reconstruction and resilience planning after the floods.<ref name="ETGov2023">{{cite news |title=Kerala IAS V Venu, IPS Sheikh Darvesh to assume charge as chief secretary and DGP on July 1 |url=https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/governance/kerala-ias-v-venu-ips-sheikh-darvesh-to-assume-charge-as-chief-secretary-and-dgp-on-july-1/101335601 |work=ETGovernment |date=28 June 2023 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="WorldBankRKI" />

== Chief Secretary of Kerala==
On 27 June 2023, the Kerala Cabinet decided to appoint Venu, then additional chief secretary (home), as the next chief secretary of Kerala.<ref name="Cabinet2023" /> He assumed office on 1 July 2023, succeeding V. P. Joy, and served until 31 August 2024.<ref name="GADCS" /><ref name="ETGov2023" />

Venu retired on 31 August 2024 and was succeeded by his spouse, [[Sarada Muraleedharan]], with media coverage noting the unusual handover from husband to wife for the state's top bureaucratic post.<ref name="GADCS" /><ref name="IEHandover2024">{{cite news |title=Power couple: As Kerala chief secretary readies for retirement, his IAS wife is set to take over |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/thiruvananthapuram/power-couple-as-kerala-chief-secretary-to-readies-for-retirement-his-ias-wife-is-set-to-take-over-9526487/ |work=The Indian Express |date=22 August 2024 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="IndiaToday2024">{{cite news |title=Mr and Mrs Chief Secretary: Husband passes top Kerala post to wife |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ias-sarada-muraleedharan-succeeds-husband-v-venu-kerala-chief-secretary-2591994-2024-09-02 |work=India Today |date=2 September 2024 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref>

== Post-retirement ==
In September 2024, Venu was appointed chairperson of the board of trustees of the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF).<ref name="IEKBF2024" /><ref name="KBFAbout">{{cite web |title=Kochi Biennale Foundation |url=https://www.kochimuzirisbiennale.org/about |website=Kochi Biennale Foundation |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref>

In May 2025, he assumed the role of director and curator of the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL) 2026.<ref name="MBIFL2025" />

== Personal life ==
Venu is married to [[Sarada Muraleedharan]], also a 1990-batch IAS officer, who succeeded him as Chief Secretary of Kerala in 2024.<ref name="TNIE2023" /><ref name="IndiaToday2024" /> The couple have two children.<ref name="OnmanoramaProfile" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian Administrative Service officers]]
[[Category:Medical doctors from Kerala]]

V. Venu - Revision history

Jina m. butchart: Adding A Article With Sources!