Bhopal: Senior IAS officer Ashok Barnwal (IAS:1991:Madhya Pradesh) has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, succeeding Anurag Jain, who has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog by the Central Government.
The appointment order was issued by the Madhya Pradesh Government on Wednesday evening shortly after the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved Anurag Jain’s appointment to NITI Aayog. Barnwal will head the state’s bureaucracy until his retirement on January 31, 2027.
Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav welcomed the newly appointed Chief Secretary at Samatva Bhavan, his official residence, and congratulated him on assuming the state’s top bureaucratic post.
Who Is IAS Ashok Barnwal?
Ashok Barnwal is a 1991-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre with over 35 years of administrative experience spanning governance, healthcare, agriculture, forests, food security, environmental management and public policy.
Known for his calm administrative style and strong policy implementation skills, Barnwal has served in several of the state’s most important departments and has worked under different political administrations, earning a reputation as a professional and consensus-oriented civil servant.
Read Also: Who Is IAS Anurag Jain? MP Chief Secretary Appointed CEO of NITI Aayog
Educational Background
Born on January 27, 1967, Mr Barnwal hails from the region that is now part of Jharkhand.
He possesses a strong academic background, including:
- B.Tech/B.E. in Mining Engineering
- Post Graduate Diploma in Public Policy & Management
His technical education, combined with formal training in public policy, has helped shape his approach to governance and institutional reforms.
Career in the IAS
After joining the IAS in 1991, Mr Barnwal served in a wide range of administrative positions across Madhya Pradesh. Over the years, he has handled more than two dozen key assignments at both district and state levels.
His early career included postings as:
- District Collector
- Commissioner & Secretary
- Managing Director
- Additional Secretary
- Mission Coordinator
- Environment Commissioner
- Director of various departments
These assignments provided him extensive experience in district administration, policy implementation and public service delivery.
Key Administrative Assignments
Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Medical Education
Before becoming Chief Secretary, Barnwal was serving as Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Public Health and Medical Education Department.
He also held additional responsibilities as:
- Food Safety Commissioner
- In-charge of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation
In these roles, he supervised healthcare reforms, medical infrastructure, food safety regulation and rehabilitation initiatives.
Forest & Environment
Barnwal has also served as Additional Chief Secretary, Forest and Wildlife Department, where he oversaw forest conservation, biodiversity management and environmental governance.
He additionally served as:
Environment Commissioner
Chairman, Madhya Pradesh State Forest Development Corporation
His tenure focused on balancing ecological conservation with sustainable development.
Agriculture & Farmer Welfare
As ACS of the Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development Department, Barnwal worked on agricultural development, farmer welfare schemes and rural development initiatives.
Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister
One of the most significant phases of his career came as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, where he coordinated major governance initiatives and policy reforms.
He played an important role in preparing Madhya Pradesh’s long-term development strategy, including the state’s Vision 2025 roadmap.
Food & Civil Supplies
Barnwal also headed the Food and Civil Supplies Department, contributing to improvements in public distribution systems, food security and service delivery mechanisms.
Administrative Style and Reputation
Within the bureaucracy, Ashok Barnwal is regarded as a seasoned administrator known for:
- Efficient policy execution
- Administrative neutrality
- Consensus-based decision making
- Institutional reforms
- People-centric governance
He has also been associated with e-governance initiatives and administrative modernisation aimed at improving transparency and public service delivery.
Why His Appointment Matters
Barnwal takes over as Chief Secretary at a crucial time for Madhya Pradesh.
The state is currently focusing on:
- Industrial investment
- Healthcare expansion
- Infrastructure development
- Agricultural reforms
- Environmental conservation
- Ease of Doing Business
- Digital governance
His long administrative experience across multiple sectors is expected to help ensure continuity in governance while advancing the state’s development agenda.
Replacing Anurag Jain
Barnwal succeeds Anurag Jain (IAS:1989:Madhya Pradesh), who has been appointed CEO of NITI Aayog by the Central Government.
Jain served as the 35th Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh and earlier held several key positions at the Centre, including Secretary in the Ministries of Road Transport & Highways and DPIIT. He also played a significant role in implementing flagship initiatives such as PM Gati Shakti and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana.
With Jain moving to New Delhi to head India’s premier public policy think tank, Barnwal now assumes responsibility for leading the Madhya Pradesh bureaucracy through the next phase of governance and development.
Quick Profile: IAS Ashok Barnwal
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Ashok Barnwal |
| Service | Indian Administrative Service (IAS) |
| Batch | 1991 |
| Cadre | Madhya Pradesh |
| Date of Birth | January 27, 1967 |
| Education | B.Tech/B.E. in Mining Engineering; PG Diploma in Public Policy & Management |
| Previous Post | Additional Chief Secretary, Public Health & Medical Education |
| Additional Charges | Food Safety Commissioner; Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief & Rehabilitation |
| New Post | Chief Secretary, Madhya Pradesh |
| Retirement | January 31, 2027 |
