Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to witness a historic moment in its administrative journey with the appointment of senior IAS officer Anu Garg as the state’s first woman Chief Secretary. A 1991-batch officer of the Odisha cadre, her elevation marks a significant step forward in strengthening gender representation at the highest level of the state bureaucracy.
The state government appointed Garg to the top administrative post on Wednesday, December 24. She will assume office in the new year, succeeding outgoing Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, who is scheduled to retire on December 31. With this appointment, Garg becomes the 47th officer overall to hold the prestigious position in Odisha.
Currently, Garg is serving as Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary in the Water Resources Department. She is also holding additional charge as Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary in the Planning and Convergence Department, overseeing key policy and development initiatives of the state.
Born on March 1, 1969, Garg brings a strong academic foundation to her administrative career. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, a master’s degree in Sociology from Lucknow University, and a master’s degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University in the United States.
Over the years, Garg has handled a wide range of responsibilities at both the state and national levels. Before her current role, she served as Principal Secretary in the Labour and ESI Department as well as in the Women and Child Development Department of the Odisha government. Her tenure in these roles focused on social welfare, workforce development and inclusive governance.
Her experience also includes key assignments with the Government of India, where she served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Textiles, Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Earlier, she held the post of Commissioner-cum-Secretary in the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Odisha, between 2008 and 2012.
Anu Garg’s appointment is widely seen as a milestone in Odisha’s administrative history, reflecting both her extensive experience across critical sectors and the evolving leadership landscape of the state.
