Anu Garg to Become Odisha’s First Woman Chief Secretary from January 2026

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to script a significant chapter in its administrative history with the appointment of senior IAS officer Anu Garg as the state’s next Chief Secretary, effective January 1, 2026. With this, Garg will become the first woman to hold the top bureaucratic post in the state, succeeding incumbent Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, who retires on December 31, 2025.

A 1991-batch IAS officer, Garg currently serves as Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary, Planning and Convergence Department. Known for her steady leadership and policy-driven approach, she had earlier made history in February 2023 by becoming Odisha’s first woman Development Commissioner.

Over a distinguished career spanning more than three decades, Garg has held several key portfolios in the state government, including Principal Secretary, Water Resources; Women and Child Development; Labour and ESI; and Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Health and Family Welfare. Her work across sectors has been marked by a strong focus on governance reforms, social welfare and inclusive development.

At the Centre, Garg played a crucial role in policy formulation while serving as Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister from 2012 to 2015, followed by her tenure as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Textiles (2015–2017). Her experience at both state and national levels has earned her recognition as one of Odisha’s most accomplished administrators.

One of her most notable contributions has been the founding of Mission Shakti, Odisha’s flagship programme that has empowered millions of women through self-help groups, transforming livelihoods and strengthening grassroots leadership. She has also led major initiatives in public healthcare, nutrition, and labour welfare, particularly for industrial workers. In recognition of her service, she was granted the Apex Scale (Level-17) of the IAS on January 15, 2022.

Garg brings with her a strong academic foundation, holding a Bachelor’s degree from Delhi University, a Master’s in Sociology from Lucknow University, and a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Her elevation to the state’s highest bureaucratic office reflects Odisha’s growing emphasis on gender representation in governance, while ensuring administrative continuity and policy stability under the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi-led BJP government.