K M Chandrasekhar worked in the Indian Administrative Service from 1970 to 2011. During the last four years of his career, he was Union Cabinet Secretary, reporting Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. After retirement, he was the Vice Chairman of the State Planning Board till 2016. He has varied experience, especially in public finance, industry, agriculture, fisheries, international trade and diplomacy and has been Revenue Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and Finance Secretary in his State Government. He has diplomatic and negotiating experience as Indian Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation, Geneva, and as Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Brussels, dealing with the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg.