DougHuonDeKermad at 02:13, 1 April 2026

2026-04-01T02:13:23Z

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{{Short description|Indian civil servant}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = A. Jayathilak
| office = [[Chief secretary (India)|Chief Secretary]] of [[Government of Kerala|Kerala]]
| term_start = 1 May 2025
| predecessor = [[Sarada Muraleedharan]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|6|16}}<ref name="KeralaGADCivilList2025">{{cite web |url=https://gad.kerala.gov.in/sites/default/files/All_india_services/Civil%20list-IAS_13.05.2025.pdf |title=IAS Civil List Online (published as on 13.05.2025) – Indian Administrative Service (Kerala cadre) |publisher=General Administration Department, Government of Kerala |date=13 May 2025 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref>
| occupation = Civil servant
| nominator =
| governor = [[Rajendra Arlekar]]
| 1blankname = Chief Minister
| 1namedata = [[Pinarayi Vijayan]]
}}

'''A. Jayathilak''' (born 16 June 1966) is an Indian civil servant and a 1991-batch officer of the [[Indian Administrative Service]] (Kerala cadre).<ref name="KeralaGADCivilList2025" /> He has served as the [[Chief Secretary (India)|Chief Secretary]] of the [[Government of Kerala]] since May 2025, as the state's 50th chief secretary.<ref name="PrintPTI2025">{{cite news |url=https://theprint.in/india/jayathilak-to-be-new-kerala-chief-secretary/2600767/ |title=Jayathilak to be new Kerala Chief Secretary |work=ThePrint |agency=PTI |date=23 April 2025 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="ITMalayalamCharge2025">{{cite web |url=https://malayalam.indiatoday.in/keralam/story/a-jayathilak-takes-over-as-chief-secretary-after-saradha-muraleedharan-retires-srs-1207463-2025-05-01 |title=A Jayathilak takes over as Chief Secretary after Sarada Muraleedharan retires |website=India Today Malayalam |date=1 May 2025 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Jayathilak studied medicine at [[Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram|Thiruvananthapuram Medical College]] and graduated in 1990.<ref name="TNIEApr2025">{{cite news |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2025/Apr/24/jayathilak-to-be-keralas-50th-chief-secretary |title=Jayathilak to be Kerala’s 50th Chief Secretary |work=The New Indian Express |date=24 April 2025 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref>

== Career ==
Jayathilak joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1991.<ref name="KeralaGADCivilList2025" /> He began his field postings as Sub-Collector of Mananthavady and later served as District Collector of [[Kollam]] and [[Kozhikode]].<ref name="TNIEApr2025" /><ref name="TNMApr2025">{{cite news |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/after-sarada-muralidharan-a-jayathilak-to-be-the-next-chief-secretary-of-kerala |title=After Sarada Muralidharan, A Jayathilak to be the next Chief Secretary of Kerala |work=The News Minute |date=24 April 2025 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref>

He served as managing director of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation and was associated with Kerala's tourism branding efforts during the period when officials such as Amitabh Kant and V. Venu were also involved in the state's tourism promotion.<ref name="TNIEApr2025" /> He later served on deputation in Chhattisgarh, where he was the first managing director of the Chhattisgarh tourism board.<ref name="TNIEApr2025" /><ref name="OnmanoramaApr2025">{{cite news |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2025/04/23/jayathilak-kerala-chief-secretary.html |title=Dr A Jayathilak named next Chief Secretary of Kerala |work=Onmanorama |date=23 April 2025 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref>

=== Central government and statutory bodies ===
Jayathilak has served as chairman of the [[Marine Products Export Development Authority]] (MPEDA).<ref name="PIB2016">{{cite web |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=150992 |title=Push for Aquaculture as India targets marine products exports worth $5.6 bn in 2016-17 |publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India |date=21 September 2016 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="BT2016">{{cite news |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/opinion/interviews/story/worst-period-for-the-fish-sector-is-over-a-jayathilak-mpeda-68430-2016-10-21 |title=The worst period for the fish sector is over, says A. Jayathilak |work=Business Today |date=21 October 2016 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="Forbes2017">{{cite news |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/special/indian-tilapia-can-be-the-countrys-new-it-industry-says-mpeda-chairman-a-jayathilak/47235/1 |title=Indian Tilapia can be the country's new IT industry, says MPEDA chairman A Jayathilak |work=Forbes India |date=13 June 2017 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref>

He was also the chairman of the [[Spices Board]] and as chair of the [[International Pepper Community]] during India's chair year.<ref name="ET2015">{{cite news |url=https://m.economictimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/india-set-to-host-global-pepper-convention-on-november-22/articleshow/49843142.cms |title=India set to host global pepper convention on November 22 |work=The Economic Times |date=19 November 2015 |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref>

== Chief Secretary of Kerala ==
On 23 April 2025 the Kerala cabinet approved Jayathilak's appointment as chief secretary, following the impending retirement of incumbent [[Sarada Muraleedharan]] on 30 April 2025.<ref name="PrintPTI2025" /><ref name="TNMApr2025" /> He assumed office on 1 May 2025.<ref name="ITMalayalamCharge2025" /> Jayathilak also serves ex officio as the chief executive officer of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA).<ref name="KSDMASEC">{{cite web |url=https://sdma.kerala.gov.in/sec/ |title=SEC |publisher=Kerala State Disaster Management Authority |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref>

== Controversies ==
In 2025, shortly before taking charge as Chief Secretary of Kerala, A. Jayathilak was named in a complaint alleging irregularities in the utilisation of [[Centrally Sponsored Scheme|Central funds]] under the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY). The complaint was received by the [[Central Vigilance Commission]] and forwarded to the [[Government of Kerala]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Days before taking over as Kerala Chief Secretary, Jayathilak faces probe over Central funds bungling|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2025/Apr/29/days-before-taking-over-as-keralachief-secretary-jayathilak-faces-probe-over-central-funds-bungling|website=The New Indian Express|date=2025-04-29|access-date=2026-02-01|language=en|first=Express News|last=Service}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Suspended IAS officer in Kerala raises fresh allegations against Chief Secretary Jayathilak|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2025/Jul/29/suspended-ias-officer-in-kerala-raises-fresh-allegations-against-chief-secretary-jayathilak|website=The New Indian Express|date=2025-07-29|access-date=2026-02-01|language=en|first=Express News|last=Service}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=N Prasanth accuses chief secretary Jayathilak of procedural violations, misuse of power|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2025/Sep/11/n-prasanth-accuses-chief-secretary-jayathilak-of-procedural-violations-misuse-of-power|website=The New Indian Express|date=2025-09-11|access-date=2026-02-01|language=en|first=Jose K.|last=Joseph}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jayathilak, A.}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian Administrative Service officers]]
[[Category:People from Thiruvananthapuram]]

A. Jayathilak - Revision history

DougHuonDeKermad at 02:13, 1 April 2026