Odisha Chief Electoral Officer R. S. Gopalan has applied for voluntary retirement from government service, nearly one and a half years before his scheduled retirement.
The development took place on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, when reports confirmed that the 2001 batch Odisha cadre IAS officer submitted his voluntary retirement application to the state government.
Gopalan has been serving as Odisha's Chief Electoral Officer since July 2024. He also holds the additional position of Secretary of the State's Excise Department.
Personal and Health Reasons Cited
According to Gopalan's statement to The Times of India, he applied for voluntary retirement for personal and health reasons.
He also said he had been considering leaving government service for months. But he decided to wait until the Odisha electoral revision was completed and the final electoral rolls were published.
Gopalan's statement is significant because his decision comes shortly after the completion of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state. But he said his decision was not related to the SIR exercise.
Nearly 18 Months Before Scheduled Retirement
Gopalan's normal service tenure was expected to continue until June 2028, the New Indian Express reported. His application is therefore 18 months before retirement.
The application will now have to go through the required government process. Reports have not indicated that the voluntary retirement has already been formally accepted.
Gopalan's Role During Odisha SIR
The development comes shortly after Odisha completed its Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The electoral roll was finalized on September 21, 2026. The changes made to the state's voter list resulted in a significant decrease in the number of electors compared with the previous roll. Opposition parties questioned some of the deletions, and election authorities explained the revision process and the reasons for changes to the electoral roll.
Gopalan managed the electoral process as the state’s Chief Electoral Officer.
A 25-Year Administrative Career
Gopalan belongs to the 2001 batch of Indian Administrative Service and has held many important administrative positions during his career.
Before becoming Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer, he worked in various government positions, including positions in the labour and agriculture departments. He was also Deputy Director-General at the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
His tenure as Odisha CEO began in July 2024, placing him at the centre of the state's election administration during the 2024 elections and the subsequent electoral-roll revision.
What Happens Next?
Gopalan's application is not the same as an immediate retirement. The voluntary retirement request will need to be considered and formally processed by the government.
We hope the decision on his request and appointment to replace him as Odisha's Chief Electoral Officer will be communicated to the appropriate administrative and election authorities.
For now, the key development is that R. S. Gopalan submitted his voluntary retirement application on September 30, 2026, for personal and health reasons and is expected to stay in service until June 2028.
