Bhubaneswar: Odisha is poised to create history with the appointment of senior IAS officer Anu Garg as the state’s next Chief Secretary, effective January 1, 2026. With this appointment, Garg will become the first woman to occupy the highest bureaucratic post in the state, marking a significant step toward gender inclusivity in governance.
A 1991-batch IAS officer, Anu Garg will take over the responsibility from incumbent Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, who is scheduled to retire on December 31, 2025. Known for her administrative acumen and policy-driven approach, Garg currently serves as Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary of the Planning and Convergence Department.
Her career spans more than three decades across crucial departments in both the Odisha government and the Centre. She previously made history in February 2023 by becoming the first woman Development Commissioner of the state. Her key state-level assignments include Principal Secretary of Water Resources, Women and Child Development, Labour and ESI, and Health and Family Welfare.
At the national level, Garg served as Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister between 2012 and 2015, followed by her tenure as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Textiles from 2015 to 2017, gaining wide exposure to policy formulation and governance at the highest levels.
One of her most impactful contributions is the conceptualisation of Mission Shakti, Odisha’s flagship women empowerment initiative that has transformed the lives of millions of women through self-help groups. She has also played a pivotal role in strengthening healthcare delivery, nutrition programmes, and labour welfare initiatives across the state.
In recognition of her exceptional service, Anu Garg was awarded the Apex Scale (Level-17) of the Indian Administrative Service on January 15, 2022.
Academically accomplished, she holds a Bachelor’s degree from Delhi University, a Master’s in Sociology from Lucknow University, and a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Her elevation to the top administrative post reflects Odisha’s commitment to inclusive leadership and administrative continuity as the state advances its development agenda under the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi-led BJP government.
