Incumbent DGP Jasti Venkata Ramudu will be retiring on Saturday on completion of his two-year fixed tenure.
Rao is currently the managing director of AP State Road Transport Corporation and is expected to be appointed full-time DGP (Head of Police Force) shortly upon clearance from the Union Public Service Commission.
As per a law enacted by the AP legislature in 2014, the state DGP (HoPF) will have a fixed two-year tenure irrespective of the date of superannuation.
The state government will have to send a panel of five names of officers eligible to be appointed as DGP (HoPF) to the UPSC.
The UPSC will shortlist three names and the state will have the liberty to select one from the three.
Rao is the third senior-most IPS officer in the AP cadre and, given the caste equations, he is expected to be ultimately picked up for the coveted DGP (HoPF) post upon completion of the formalities.