Senior IAS officer Anu Garg has been appointed as Odisha’s first woman Chief Secretary, marking a historic milestone in the state’s administrative leadership
OdishaPlus Bureau
In a historic development for Odisha’s administrative leadership, senior IAS officer Anu Garg has been appointed as the state’s new Chief Secretary, marking the first time a woman has assumed the highest bureaucratic post in the state. She will take charge following the retirement of the incumbent Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, who is set to superannuate on December 31, 2025.
A 1991-batch Indian Administrative Service officer, Garg is presently serving as the Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary in key departments, including Planning and Convergence and Water Resources. Her elevation to the top administrative position has been formally notified by the General Administration and Public Grievance Department.
Known for her extensive experience across both state and central government roles, Anu Garg brings decades of administrative expertise to the position. Over the years, she has handled several crucial portfolios, including Water Resources, Women and Child Development, and Labour and ESI, playing a significant role in policy implementation and governance reforms.
In her role as Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, she has spearheaded efforts to finalize long-standing projects, initiate new ones, enhance water use efficiency, and promote water conservation. Additionally, she has emphasized the integration of information technology and community participation in water management.
She held the role of Principal Secretary in the Departments of Labour and ESI, as well as Women & Child Development. She has also worked in various capacities within different Ministries of the Government of India, including Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Textiles, Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Furthermore, she served as Commissioner-cum-Secretary for the Department of Health & Family Welfare in the Government of Odisha from 2008 to 2012.
From 1992 to 2003, Garg worked in several districts of Odisha in various roles, including Collector and District Magistrate in Kalahandi, Sambalpur, and Jharsuguda, Additional District Magistrate, and Sub-divisional Magistrate. She was a member of the High-level Expert Group (HLEG) for Universal Health Coverage established by the Planning Commission of the Government of India.
She is a graduate of Lady Sri Ram College, New Delhi, and obtained her Master’s degree from the University of Lucknow. In 2007, she earned her Master of Public Health from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, USA. She has authored numerous papers on various public health topics and has been published in esteemed journals.
Her appointment is being viewed as a milestone in Odisha’s administrative history, reflecting the state’s growing emphasis on inclusive leadership and experienced governance at the highest level.
She will serve as the Chief Secretary for a considerable duration until her retirement in 2029.