Odisha is set to create history as senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Anu Garg assumes charge as the state’s first woman Chief Secretary from January 1, 2026. Her appointment marks a significant milestone in the administrative history of Odisha, reflecting growing representation of women in the country’s top bureaucratic positions.
She will succeed Manoj Ahuja, who is due to retire on December 31, 2025.
Background
- Anu Garg is a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre with more than three decades of service.
- Born on March 31, 1969, she has over three years of service remaining, giving her a substantial tenure to steer governance and administrative reforms in the state.
- Before her elevation, she served as Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary, holding key responsibilities in planning, convergence, and water resources.
Significance of the Appointment
- Her appointment is historically significant as she becomes the first woman to hold the Chief Secretary’s post in Odisha.
- This move is seen as a step forward in promoting gender diversity and leadership balance within the higher civil services.
- As Chief Secretary, she will act as the administrative head of the state bureaucracy and principal advisor to the Chief Minister, playing a central role in policy implementation and inter-departmental coordination.
Professional Experience in Odisha
Anu Garg has handled several critical departments during her career in the state, including,
- Women and Child Development
- Labour and ESI
- Health and Family Welfare
- Planning and Convergence
- Water Resources
In February 2023, she became the first woman IAS officer to serve as Development Commissioner of Odisha.
She is also known for her field-oriented approach. In March 2023, she became the first senior official to visit Swabhiman Anchal, a Maoist-affected region, where she spent a night at Badapada village to assess grassroots challenges firsthand.
Experience at the Centre
- Anu Garg has significant experience in central government roles. Her most prominent assignment was as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) from November 2012 to April 2015.
- She also served as Joint Secretary in the Ministries of Textiles and Health and Family Welfare before returning to the Odisha cadre in 2017.
- This blend of state and central experience is expected to strengthen Centre–State coordination under her leadership.
Key Takeaways
- Anu Garg will become Odisha’s first woman Chief Secretary from January 1, 2026.
- She is a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre.
- She succeeds Manoj Ahuja, retiring on December 31, 2025.
- Garg has served both in Odisha and at the Centre, including in the PMO.
- Her appointment marks a milestone in gender representation in senior civil services.
Question
Q. Who has been appointed as Odisha’s first woman Chief Secretary?
A) Ranjita Mishra
B) Anu Garg
C) Sujata Mishra
D) Meenakshi Lekhi
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