During his nearly 17 years of distinguished public service in various capacities, he acquired a formidable reputation in the State of Andhra Pradesh. Rehabilitation of 8000 youth from displaced families of Visakahapatnam Steel Plant, Creation of a record 2,00,000 of irrigation through people's participation, designing the reconstruction of drainage and irrigation network in Krishna and Godavari deltas, strengthening the credit cooperatives and making them independent of government control, and several major policy initiatives including empowerment of parents in schools, speedy justice through rural courts, economic reform and restructuring of Andhra Pradesh, developing the Infocity in Hyderabad, and empowerment of local governments and stake holders are among his outstanding accomplishments in Andhra Pradesh.

Among other things, he served as Secretary to both Governor and Chief Minister. Dr. Narayan's experience in government fully convinced him that what India needs to day is not merely periodic change of players, but a fundamental change in the rules of the game. In order to translate his vision into practical reality, he resigned from the Indian Administration Service (IAS) from the post of Secretary to the government in 1996, and worked with like-minded colleagues for the formation of Lok Satta and is currently its Campaign Coordinator.

Lok Satta, an NGO headquartered in Hyderabad, is dedicated to creating a suitable environment for all Indians to realize their maximum positive potential through comprehensive reforms in the Indian governance. Lok Satta with over a lakh volunteers is fighting for electoral reforms.