Anuradha Prasad Takes Oath as Member of Union Public Service Commission

New Delhi: Anuradha Prasad, former Secretary to the Government of India in the Inter-State Council Secretariat, Ministry of Home Affairs, was sworn in today as a Member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Retd.), the seniormost Member of the Commission.

With a distinguished career spanning over 37 years in public service, Prasad is a 1986-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS). She brings with her a wealth of experience in public finance, policy formulation, cooperative federalism, and governance across several key ministries of the Government of India.

An alumnus of Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Prasad holds a Master’s in History from the University of Delhi and another Master’s in Development Administration from the University of Birmingham, UK.

Throughout her career, Prasad held significant roles in the Ministries of Defence, Finance, Food Processing Industries, Labour & Employment, and Home Affairs. As Finance Manager in the Ministry of Defence’s Acquisitions Wing, she played a critical role in managing high-value defence acquisitions. In the Finance Ministry, she oversaw finance and accounting for Defence Services and the Ordnance Factory Board.

During her tenure in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, she contributed to the development of cold chain infrastructure, food testing labs, and industry-focused R&D. She also served as a Board Member of FSSAI and NCVET, adding regulatory experience to her diverse portfolio.

As Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Prasad was instrumental in the drafting of the Labour Codes and the development of the e-Shram Portal, a national database for unorganised sector workers. Her leadership as Director General of ESIC was especially impactful during the COVID-19 pandemic, as she spearheaded health and welfare initiatives for millions of workers.

In her most recent role as Secretary of the Inter-State Council Secretariat, she played a key role in strengthening Centre-State and inter-state relations, building consensus on sensitive issues, and accelerating critical infrastructure projects.

Following her retirement, Prasad served as a Member of the Police Complaints Authority under the Government of NCT Delhi.