Odisha Appoints Anu Garg as First Woman Chief Secretary

Odisha government has appointed senior IAS officer Anu Garg as the new Chief Secretary, creating history as she becomes the first woman to hold the state’s top bureaucratic post.

The appointment comes ahead of the retirement of the incumbent Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, who demits office on December 31.

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Odisha Appoints Anu Garg as First Woman Chief Secretary

Historic Appointment in State Administration

Anu Garg is a 1991-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Odisha cadre. She is currently serving as Development Commissioner, with additional charge of the Water Resources Department.

Her elevation:

• Ends speculation over the top bureaucratic post
• Reflects seniority and administrative competence
• Marks a major step towards gender representation in civil services leadership

She will formally succeed Manoj Ahuja as the senior-most civil servant in the state.

Extensive Experience Across Key Departments

With over three decades of administrative experience, Anu Garg has handled several important portfolios in the Odisha government, including:

• Health and Family Welfare
• Women and Child Development
• Labour and Employees’ State Insurance

At the district level, she has served as:

• Collector and District Magistrate of Sambalpur and Bargarh
• Additional District Magistrate and Sub-Collector in Kalahandi and Jharsuguda

Her career spans governance, social sector delivery, and administrative reforms.

Central Deputation and Academic Background

During her central deputation, Anu Garg served as:

• Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles
• Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister of India

Academically, she is:

• An alumna of Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University
• Holds postgraduate degrees from the University of Lucknow
• Earned a Master of Public Health from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University (USA)

Significance for Governance and Representation

Anu Garg’s appointment symbolises:

• Progress in women’s leadership in public administration
• Continuity in Odisha’s governance framework
• Strong coordination between state and central policy experience

Her leadership is expected to enhance administrative efficiency during a crucial phase of Odisha’s development.

Exam-Oriented Key Facts

• Anu Garg is a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre
• She is the first woman Chief Secretary of Odisha
• She earlier became the first woman Development Commissioner in March 2023
• She will succeed Manoj Ahuja, retiring on December 31
• The Chief Secretary is the senior-most civil servant in a state

Question & Answer

Q1. Who has been appointed as the first woman Chief Secretary of Odisha?
(a) Sujata Rathi
(b) Anu Garg
(c) V. Radha
(d) Meera Mohanty
Answer: Anu Garg

Q2. Anu Garg belongs to which IAS batch?
(a) 1989
(b) 1990
(c) 1991
(d) 1992
Answer: 1991

Q3. Who is Anu Garg succeeding as the Chief Secretary of Odisha?
(a) Asit Tripathy
(b) Manoj Ahuja
(c) Gagan Dhal
(d) Suresh Chandra Mohapatra
Answer: Manoj Ahuja

Q4. The Chief Secretary of a state is best described as:
(a) Head of the State Cabinet
(b) Chief Judicial Authority
(c) Senior-most civil servant
(d) Chief Election Officer
Answer: Senior-most civil servant

Q5. Before becoming Chief Secretary, Anu Garg was serving as:
(a) Chief Vigilance Officer
(b) Home Secretary
(c) Development Commissioner
(d) Finance Secretary
Answer: Development Commissioner

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