Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi, widely known as SAM Rizvi or IAS officer Sam Rizvi, is one of the most well-known senior bureaucrats to have served in the Telangana cadre of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Born on 19 September 1975 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, he belongs to the prestigious 1999 batch of the IAS. Over a career spanning more than 27 years, he served across health, energy, land revenue, commercial taxes, and general administration departments in Telangana.
Sam Rizvi’s journey is remarkable. He earned a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur — one of India’s top engineering institutions — and later completed a postgraduate program in Public Management and Policy from IIM Ahmedabad. He then cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination and joined the IAS.
He served in roles as diverse as District Collector of Hyderabad, Health Secretary, Chairman and Managing Director of power distribution companies, and Principal Secretary in multiple departments. In October 2025, he chose voluntary retirement after 26+ years of service, marking the end of a distinguished career in public administration.
Quick Information Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi |
| Popular Name | SAM Rizvi / Sam Rizvi IAS |
| Profession | IAS Officer (Retired) |
| Date of Birth | 19 September 1975 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 50 Years |
| Birth Place | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Hometown | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Islam |
| Education | B.Tech (Electrical Engineering), PGP (Public Management & Policy) |
| College / University | IIT Kanpur; IIM Ahmedabad |
| IAS Batch | 1999 |
| Cadre | Telangana |
| Home State (Domicile) | Uttar Pradesh |
| Last Posting | FAC, Principal Secretary (Poll), GAD, Telangana |
| Retirement Date | 31 October 2025 (Voluntary Retirement) |
| Languages Known | English, Hindi, Urdu |
IAS Officer Sam Rizvi: Age, Early Life and Education
Childhood and Background
Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi was born on 19 September 1975 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Lucknow is a city known for its rich cultural heritage, Urdu literature, and academic tradition. Growing up in this environment shaped his intellectual curiosity and drive for excellence.
His home state is Uttar Pradesh, and he belongs to the Uttar Pradesh domicile, though he spent the majority of his career serving in the Telangana cadre.
Engineering from IIT Kanpur
After completing his schooling, Sam Rizvi secured admission to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur — one of the most competitive and prestigious engineering institutions in India. He pursued a B.Tech degree in Electrical Engineering there.
Getting into IIT Kanpur requires top-level performance in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). Clearing it is a feat that only a tiny fraction of students achieve each year. This speaks volumes about Rizvi’s intelligence and hard work from an early age.
Management Education from IIM Ahmedabad
After graduating as an engineer, Rizvi went on to study Public Management and Policy at IIM Ahmedabad — another premier institution in India. IIM Ahmedabad is consistently ranked among the top business and management schools in Asia.
This combination of engineering + management education gave Rizvi a rare skill set — the technical understanding of systems and the strategic thinking needed to lead large government organizations. It prepared him well for the challenges of the IAS.
Cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination
With this strong academic background, Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination — India’s toughest competitive exam. He cleared it and was inducted into the Indian Administrative Service in 1999, getting the Telangana (then Andhra Pradesh) cadre.
The UPSC process involves three stages — Preliminary, Mains, and Interview — and is cleared by fewer than 0.1% of applicants each year. His success was a natural extension of his dedication and strong educational foundation.
IAS Officer Sam Rizvi: Career Overview
Sam Rizvi built a long and varied career in the Indian Administrative Service over more than 27 years. He served across 21 distinct postings in 7 different sectors of government, according to data compiled from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) IAS Civil List.
Early Career and District-Level Work
Like most IAS officers, Rizvi started his career at the district level. He served as a District Collector and Magistrate — one of the most powerful and responsible roles in Indian administration. A District Collector handles law and order, revenue collection, disaster management, development schemes, and much more.
He served as the Collector of Hyderabad — the capital city of Telangana. Managing a mega-city like Hyderabad demands exceptional administrative skills, quick decision-making, and the ability to work with multiple government departments simultaneously.
Senior Administrative Roles
Over the years, Rizvi rose steadily through the ranks. He served in several senior roles including:
- Joint Secretary
- Director
- Registrar
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Project Officer
- Secretary
- Principal Secretary
These positions put him in charge of major government programs and policy decisions. He worked across sectors including Land Revenue (9 years), Personnel and General Administration (nearly 6 years), and Health (over 3 years), making him one of the more experienced multi-sector administrators in the Telangana cadre.
Health Department
Sam Rizvi served as Health Secretary for Telangana, managing the public health infrastructure of one of India’s major states. This role involves overseeing hospitals, medical education, disease control, and healthcare schemes for millions of citizens.
Energy Sector Postings
In December 2023, when the Chairman and Managing Director of Telangana’s power distribution company resigned, Sam Rizvi was given additional charge of TRANSCO (Transmission Corporation of Telangana) and GENCO (Telangana Power Generation Corporation). This was on top of his existing responsibilities as Health Secretary.
His B.Tech in Electrical Engineering made him uniquely suited to oversee power generation and transmission — unlike many bureaucrats who may lack a technical background in the energy sector.
Commercial Taxes and Excise Department
In his final major posting, Rizvi served as Principal Secretary, Commercial Taxes and Excise Department, Telangana. This is a revenue-critical department that manages tax collection and regulation of the liquor trade in the state.
Central Deputation
Sam Rizvi also served on Central Deputation with the Government of India for approximately 2 years, working at the central level alongside state-level responsibilities.
Voluntary Retirement in 2025
On 22 October 2025, Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi opted for Voluntary Retirement from Service (VRS). At the time, he still had eight years of service remaining before his regular superannuation. The government approved his VRS with effect from 31 October 2025.
Reports suggest that Rizvi had been transferred four times within two years, which is quite frequent even by IAS standards. It is widely reported that he plans to join the private sector after leaving government service. His final recorded posting before retirement was FAC, Principal Secretary (Poll), General Administration Department, Telangana — a role he held from 28 September 2025 to 23 October 2025.
Career Achievements
His career achievements speak for themselves:
- 27+ years of distinguished public service across Telangana and Central Government
- Successfully managed 21 distinct postings across 7 sectors
- Served as Hyderabad’s District Collector — one of the most high-profile collector postings in southern India
- Headed major energy institutions (TRANSCO and GENCO) during a critical transition period
- Managed Telangana’s public health system as Health Secretary
- Rare combination of IIT + IIM credentials in civil service leadership
- Completed Central Deputation with the Government of India
- Proficient in three languages — English, Hindi, and Urdu
Interesting Facts About IAS Officer Sam Rizvi
- Double Premier Institute Alumni: Sam Rizvi is one of the rare IAS officers who studied at both IIT Kanpur and IIM Ahmedabad before joining civil services. Very few bureaucrats in India carry both an IIT B.Tech and an IIM postgraduate degree.
- Engineer Turned Administrator: He studied Electrical Engineering and then chose public service. His technical background helped him lead the energy sector (TRANSCO and GENCO) with greater depth than a typical administrator.
- Multilingual Officer: Rizvi is fluent in English, Hindi, and Urdu — a combination that reflects his Lucknow roots and his career in a south Indian state where English is dominant in administration.
- One of the Longest-Serving 1999 Batch Officers in Telangana: With 27 years of service, Rizvi served across decades of change in Telangana — including the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, which created the new state of Telangana.
- Transferred Four Times in Two Years: Before his retirement, Rizvi faced unusually frequent transfers — four times in a span of two years. This is widely cited as a factor in his decision to take voluntary retirement.
- Eight Years Left at Retirement: He took VRS at a relatively young age for a senior IAS officer, with eight years of service still remaining before his regular retirement age.
- Widely Known as “SAM Rizvi”: His initials — Syed Ali Murtaza — form the acronym SAM, and he became widely recognized in Telangana bureaucratic circles by this popular name.
- Served as Hyderabad Collector: Being the District Collector of Hyderabad is considered one of the most demanding and high-profile postings in Telangana. Rizvi’s appointment to this role reflects the confidence the government had in his abilities.
- Plans to Join the Private Sector: After his retirement, reports indicate that Sam Rizvi intends to transition into the private sector, a growing trend among senior IAS officers who seek new challenges after decades in public service.
- Career Spanned Multiple Critical Departments: From land revenue to health to energy to commercial taxes, his career covered an unusually wide range of government sectors — making him a true all-round administrator.
Conclusion
IAS officer Sam Rizvi — Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi — stands out as a rare example of an administrator who combined world-class academic credentials with decades of hands-on governance experience. From cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination after graduating from IIT Kanpur and IIM Ahmedabad, to serving Telangana in roles spanning health, energy, revenue, and general administration, his career reflects both intellectual depth and administrative versatility.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is IAS officer Sam Rizvi?
IAS officer Sam Rizvi, whose full name is Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi, is a 1999-batch IAS officer from the Telangana cadre. He hails from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and served for over 27 years in senior government roles before taking voluntary retirement in October 2025.
2. What is the full name of Sam Rizvi IAS?
His full name is Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi. The popular name “SAM Rizvi” comes from his initials — Syed Ali Murtaza.
3. What is Sam Rizvi’s date of birth and age?
Sam Rizvi was born on 19 September 1975. As of 2026, he is 50 years old.
4. Where did Sam Rizvi study?
Sam Rizvi completed his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur and later did a postgraduate program in Public Management and Policy from IIM Ahmedabad.
5. What cadre does Sam Rizvi belong to?
Sam Rizvi belongs to the Telangana cadre of the IAS, 1999 batch. His home (domicile) state is Uttar Pradesh.
6. Why did Sam Rizvi take voluntary retirement?
Sam Rizvi opted for Voluntary Retirement from Service (VRS) on 22 October 2025, with effect from 31 October 2025. He cited personal reasons. Reports suggest frequent transfers — four times in two years — and a reported difference of opinion with the Excise Minister over a tender process contributed to his decision. He reportedly plans to join the private sector.
7. What was Sam Rizvi’s last posting?
His last recorded posting was FAC, Principal Secretary (Poll), General Administration Department (GAD), Telangana, from 28 September 2025 to 23 October 2025.
8. How many postings did Sam Rizvi hold during his IAS career?
According to DoPT records, Sam Rizvi held 21 distinct postings across 7 sectors of government over his 27-year career.
9. Which departments did Sam Rizvi serve in?
His top areas of experience include Land Revenue (9 years), Personnel and General Administration (about 6 years), and Health (over 3 years). He also served in the energy sector, commercial taxes and excise, and on Central Deputation with the Government of India.
10. Did Sam Rizvi serve as District Collector of Hyderabad?
Yes, Sam Rizvi served as the District Collector and Magistrate of Hyderabad — one of the most prominent district-level postings in Telangana.
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