The Odisha government has named Anu Garg, the Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary of the Water Resources Department, as the new Chief Secretary of the state. An official notification from the General Administration & Public Grievance department announced this appointment. Garg, a 1991 batch Odisha cadre IAS officer, will take over from the current Chief Secretary, Manoj Ahuja, who is due to retire on December 31, 2025.
Anu Garg, who is set to become the first woman Chief Secretary of Odisha, is expected to assume office on January 1, 2026. With a career spanning decades, she has previously served as the Collector of Sambalpur and Bargarh districts and has held various key positions in both state and union governments. Experts anticipate that Garg will prioritize women’s empowerment and safety in the state, especially in light of increasing incidents of violence against women in Odisha.
Political analysts suggest that Garg’s tenure will face challenges such as addressing issues related to paddy procurement affecting farmers and resolving the longstanding Mahanadi water dispute with neighboring Chhattisgarh. Her selection for the top administrative role was made after considering her extensive experience across different departments within the state administration, positioning her as a suitable candidate for the position.
The decision to appoint Anu Garg as Chief Secretary underscores the government’s confidence in her administrative skills and capabilities. Garg’s selection was made from a pool of senior IAS officers, reflecting a strategic choice by the Odisha government. Meanwhile, the outgoing Chief Secretary, Manoj Ahuja, who began his term on July 1, 2024, had his tenure extended until December 31, 2025.
