Telangana senior sweepers earn Rs 2L a month, says chief secretary K Ramakrishna Rao
Times of India
by SRIBALA VADLAPATLAFebruary 26, 2026
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Telangana’s monthly salary and pension bill has quadrupled over the past decade, reaching Rs 6,000 crore. Senior government employees, including sweepers, now earn up to Rs 2 lakh per month, while chief engineers in power utilities can take home Rs 7 lakh. This significant increase, revealed by Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao, stems from successive pay revisions and election-driven cycles, which have pushed salaries far beyond those of IAS officers or even the governor.
The rise in expenditure is partly due to the high competition for government jobs, with over 799 candidates vying for each Group-1 post. This has fueled a booming coaching industry as aspirants prepare intensively for these lucrative positions. Despite the hefty salaries, Telangana has managed to sustain this spending through strong economic growth, averaging around 11% annually, and robust revenue generation.
The state’s financial strategy includes efficient digital infrastructure for subsidies, exemplified by the Rs 7,000 crore Rythu Bandhu scheme, which achieved a mere 6% error rate. However, the focus on salaries has shifted significant resources away from capital expenditure, with nearly Rs 12 lakh crore spent on salaries and pensions in its first decade of existence.
This surge in public sector salaries highlights Telangana’s unique approach to governance and workforce management, reflecting both the opportunities and challenges of sustaining such high expenditure levels. For readers interested in global economic policies, this underscores the delicate balance between fostering development and ensuring fiscal sustainability in rapidly growing regions.
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/26/2026