Senior IAS Officer Anu Garg Appointed New Odisha Chief Secretary, First Woman To Hold Post

Senior IAS officer Anu Garg was on Wednesday named the next Chief Secretary of Odisha, making her the first woman to be appointed to the top post.

Garg, a 1991-batch officer, will succeed Manoj Ahuja, who

will retire on December 31, according to a government notification.

She is currently serving as the Development Commissioner. She had also scripted history in February 2023 by becoming the first woman to be appointed as the development commissioner, the second-highest-ranked bureaucrat in the state administration.

After the formation of the BJP government in Odisha in 2024, the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi-led government had shown trust in Garg by assigning her key responsibilities, particularly in ensuring the effective implementation of new government schemes.

Who Is Anu Garg?

The 1991-batch IAS officer brings extensive administrative experience with her. She also holds the charge of secretary of the Planning and Convergence Department, along with the charge of additional chief secretary of the Water Resources Department in the state government.

At the central level, Garg has served as Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office, as well as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Textiles and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

She played a crucial role in taking several flagship schemes to the grassroots level, including Subhadra Yojana, the new input subsidy scheme, and health insurance card initiatives. Her role in implementing policy decisions into on-ground execution has been considered a major strength.

She had earlier conducted the inquiry into the 2025 Rath Yatra stampede incident.

Her experience across both the Centre and the state administration has earned her a reputation as a capable and efficient officer, trusted by governments at multiple levels. Her strong coordination with the Chief Minister’s Office is seen as a key reason why the Manjhi government has reposed confidence in her.

What’s Next For Garg?

After assuming her new role, Garg would likely face several challenges, including ensuring effective coordination between the Centre and the state government, making the state administration more dynamic, strengthening administrative systems at the district level, and ensuring the timely implementation of government schemes.

Additionally, executing the new government’s vision and mission while enhancing and safeguarding the government’s public image will be among her key responsibilities.

According to senior journalist Sandeep Misha, due to her skill, ability, and proficiency, Garg has been able to get such a top position in the state bureaucracy.

Meanwhile, the current Chief Secretary may get a lucrative position in the CMO after his retirement.