Odisha entered a historic and transformative phase in its administrative journey on Wednesday with the appointment of senior IAS officer Anu Garg as the new Chief Secretary of the State, making her the first woman to hold the top bureaucratic post in Odisha. The appointment, notified by the General Administration and Public Grievance Department, comes as a significant milestone under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who has consistently emphasised administrative efficiency, transparency, and outcome-driven governance.
Anu Garg, a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre, succeeds Manoj Ahuja, who demits office on December 31, 2025. With her elevation, Garg becomes the 47th Chief Secretary of Odisha, marking not just a personal achievement but a defining moment in the State’s administrative history.
A seasoned administrator with deep institutional knowledge
Currently serving as Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary in both the Planning and Convergence Department and the Water Resources Department, Anu Garg brings with her more than three decades of administrative experience spanning key governance sectors.
Over the years, she has held several crucial portfolios, including Principal Secretary, Water Resources; Women and Child Development; Labour and ESI, and other strategic departments that directly impact social welfare, infrastructure development, and economic planning. Her wide-ranging exposure to both policy formulation and field-level execution has earned her a reputation as a firm, methodical, and reform-oriented administrator.
Born on March 1, 1969, Garg is academically distinguished, holding a bachelor’s degree from Delhi University, a master’s degree from Lucknow University, and a postgraduate qualification from Johns Hopkins University, one of the world’s leading public policy institutions. Fluent in English, Hindi, and Odia, she is known for her ability to bridge policy intent with ground realities.
A strategic choice under CM Majhi’s governance vision
Anu Garg’s appointment is being widely seen as a strategic and forward-looking decision by the Mohan Charan Majhi-led government, which has placed renewed focus on institutional discipline, performance-based administration, and citizen-centric governance.
Since assuming office, Chief Minister Majhi has repeatedly underlined the need for a strong administrative backbone to deliver on development commitments, welfare schemes, and grievance redressal. His government’s emphasis on accountability, faster decision-making, and administrative responsiveness finds a natural alignment with Garg’s governance style and experience.
Senior officials view this transition as a signal of continuity with reform, coupled with fresh administrative energy—particularly at a time when Odisha is implementing large-scale initiatives in infrastructure, water management, industrial growth, and social sector delivery.
A smooth transition from Manoj Ahuja’s tenure
Outgoing Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, a 1990-batch IAS officer, leaves behind a tenure marked by administrative stability and coordination between the State and the Centre. A mechanical engineering graduate from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, with an MBA from Panjab University and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University, Ahuja brought strong central government experience to the State.
Before becoming Odisha’s Chief Secretary on July 1, 2024, Ahuja served as Secretary in the Union Ministry of Agriculture and earlier as Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). His one-year extension reflected the confidence reposed in him during a period of administrative transition.
The seamless handover to Anu Garg reflects the Majhi government’s emphasis on institutional continuity and orderly governance.
A new administrative milestone for Odisha
Anu Garg’s elevation as Chief Secretary is more than a symbolic first. It represents Odisha’s evolving administrative ethos—where competence, experience, and institutional credibility take precedence. Her appointment also reinforces the State’s commitment to inclusive leadership at the highest levels of governance.
With Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi steering the political leadership and Anu Garg anchoring the administrative machinery, Odisha appears poised to enter a phase of disciplined governance, policy coherence, and execution-driven administration.
As the State navigates ambitious development goals and complex governance challenges, this leadership combination is expected to play a decisive role in shaping Odisha’s next chapter.