By THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM| Anu Garg, a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre, has created history with her appointment as Chief Secretary of Odisha, becoming the first woman to hold the state’s highest administrative position. Her elevation marks a significant moment in Odisha’s governance, reflecting both institutional trust in her abilities and a broader shift towards inclusive leadership at the highest levels of administration.

With over three decades of distinguished service, Anu Garg brings a rare combination of field-level experience, state leadership and national policy exposure to the office of Chief Secretary. Prior to her appointment, she was serving as Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary, handling critical departments such as Water Resources and Planning & Convergence—sectors central to Odisha’s long-term development strategy.

In the Water Resources Department, her tenure has been marked by a strong focus on outcomes. She led efforts to complete long-pending irrigation and water infrastructure projects, initiated new schemes, and emphasised water-use efficiency and conservation. A notable aspect of her approach has been the integration of information technology with community participation, aiming to make water management both data-driven and people-centric.

Her administrative journey reflects remarkable diversity. She has earlier served as Principal Secretary in the Departments of Labour and ESI, and Women and Child Development in the Odisha government. At the national level, she has held important positions including Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Textiles, Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Between 2008 and 2012, she served as Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department in Odisha, a period that deepened her engagement with public health systems.

Anu Garg’s grounding in district administration remains one of her core strengths. From 1992 to 2003, she served across several districts of Odisha in roles such as Collector and District Magistrate, Additional District Magistrate and Sub-Divisional Magistrate. These assignments provided her with firsthand insight into grassroots governance, public service delivery and the challenges faced by citizens on the ground.

Her expertise in health policy has also been nationally recognised. She was a member of the High Level Expert Group on Universal Health Coverage constituted by the Planning Commission of India, contributing to policy thinking on one of the country’s most critical social sectors.

Academically, Anu Garg has a strong and diverse foundation. She is an alumna of Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, holds a master’s degree from the University of Lucknow, and earned a Master of Public Health from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, USA, in 2007. She has also authored several research papers on public health, published in reputed journals, underscoring her engagement with evidence-based policy and academic discourse.

As Chief Secretary, Anu Garg steps into office with a reputation for competence, integrity and reform-oriented leadership. Her career reflects a consistent commitment to institution-building, social sector development and administrative innovation—qualities that are expected to shape Odisha’s governance trajectory in the years ahead.