Anu Garg Appointed as Odisha’s New Chief Secretary First Woman to Hold the State’s Highest Bureaucratic Position

Bhubaneswar: In a historic development for Odisha’s administrative landscape, senior IAS officer Anu Garg has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Odisha. She will assume charge from the New Year, succeeding the current Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, whose tenure ends on December 31. The appointment was officially notified by the General Administration Department.

Anu Garg is a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre and is presently serving as the Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary along with holding charge as Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department. With this appointment, she becomes the first woman Chief Secretary in the history of Odisha, marking a significant milestone for gender representation in the state’s top administrative post.

Born on March 1, 1969, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Anu Garg has an impressive academic background. She completed her Master’s degree in Sociology from Lucknow University and later earned a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the prestigious Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the United States.

Anu Garg began her administrative journey in 1993 as Sub-Collector of Jharsuguda. Over the years, she served in various key field and administrative roles across Odisha, including:

Sub-Collector and Additional District Magistrate, Kalahandi

District Collector of Bargarh and Sambalpur

Deputy Resident Commissioner of Odisha in New Delhi

She has also played a crucial role in the social sector, serving as:

Director, ICDS (2000–2002)

Director, State Health Services (2002–2003)

Secretary, Women and Child Development Department

Experience at the Central Government Level

At the national level, Anu Garg has held several important positions, including:

Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Her husband, Saurabh Garg, is currently serving on deputation with the Central Government.

Anu Garg’s appointment is being widely seen as a forward-looking decision by the Mohan Majhi-led Odisha government. Her vast experience in health, women and child development, water resources, and governance positions her well to lead the state’s bureaucracy during a crucial phase.

By appointing Anu Garg as Chief Secretary, Odisha has not only made history but also reinforced its commitment to inclusive leadership, administrative efficiency, and gender empowerment.