New Delhi: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the empanelment of senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Manish Kumar Gupta for holding Secretary-equivalent level posts in the Government of India.
The decision, reported on October 15, 2026, marks an important development in the administrative career of the 1991-batch AGMUT cadre officer, who currently serves as the Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh.
Mr Gupta has more than three decades of experience in public administration, including senior assignments in the Delhi government, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Ministry of Labour and Employment and municipal administration.
His empanelment makes him eligible for consideration for Secretary-equivalent positions at the Centre. However, it does not constitute an appointment to a specific central government post.
Who Is IAS Manish Kumar Gupta?
Manish Kumar Gupta is a 1991-batch Indian Administrative Service officer belonging to the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre.
He entered the IAS through direct recruitment after qualifying for the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
Born on July 21, 1967, he belongs to Madhya Pradesh and has served in administrative assignments across different Union Territories and at the Centre.
He assumed charge as Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh on September 13, 2024.
His administrative career spans approximately 35 years, with experience in urban development, land management, labour administration, governance, infrastructure and regulatory affairs.
The latest ACC decision places him among the officers empanelled for Secretary-equivalent responsibilities in the Government of India.
IAS Manish Kumar Gupta: Personal and Service Profile
- Service: Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
- Batch: 1991
- Cadre: AGMUT
- Date of birth: July 21, 1967
- Home state: Madhya Pradesh
- Recruitment: Direct Recruit
- IAS identity number: 01UT020100
- Languages known: Hindi and English
- Current position: Chief Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh
- Latest development: Empanelled for Secretary-equivalent posts at the Centre
Educational Background of IAS Manish Kumar Gupta
Mr Gupta has an academic background combining engineering, management and public administration.
According to available biographical profiles, he pursued engineering education at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur.
His educational record also includes postgraduate studies in technical and management-related disciplines.
He has additionally pursued a Master in Public Administration (MPA) at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University.
His academic qualifications reflect training in technical subjects as well as public policy and administration.
The exact engineering specialisation and titles of certain postgraduate qualifications are described differently across publicly available profiles and should be confirmed from his official service record.
Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh Since September 2024
Mr Gupta assumed charge as Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh on September 13, 2024.
As the state’s senior-most administrative officer, the Chief Secretary plays a central role in coordinating government departments, overseeing policy implementation and supporting the functioning of the state administration.
Arunachal Pradesh has distinctive administrative requirements because of its mountainous geography, international borders, dispersed settlements and infrastructure needs.
The state government’s priorities include road connectivity, public service delivery, development in remote and border areas, and implementation of centrally sponsored schemes.
In his position as Chief Secretary, Mr Gupta is responsible for coordinating the administrative machinery and facilitating implementation of government decisions.
His appointment to the post followed several senior assignments in the Delhi administration and the Union Government.
Served as Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary in Delhi
Before moving to Arunachal Pradesh, Mr Gupta held important administrative responsibilities in the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
During 2023–2024, he served in senior positions, including Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary, Home.
His assignments included responsibilities relating to departments such as Home, Land and Building, Revenue, Labour and Industries.
These departments deal with significant aspects of Delhi’s administrative functioning, including land-related matters, regulatory issues, departmental coordination and public administration.
He was also associated with coordination responsibilities concerning environmental measures, including implementation of restrictions on single-use plastics.
His experience in the Delhi government contributed to his administrative background in governance, regulation and interdepartmental coordination.
Former Vice Chairman of Delhi Development Authority
Mr Gupta also held senior positions in the Delhi Development Authority, an important agency responsible for planned development and land management in the national capital.
He served as Vice Chairman of the DDA during 2022.
The Vice Chairman’s position involves overseeing the authority’s administrative functioning, development initiatives, housing-related activities and land management responsibilities.
Before becoming Vice Chairman, he served as Principal Commissioner (Land Management) in the DDA between 2019 and 2022.
In that role, he was associated with the authority’s land administration and management functions.
His assignments in the DDA provided experience in urban planning, land-related governance and infrastructure administration in a major metropolitan region.
Served as Joint Secretary in Ministry of Labour and Employment
Between 2014 and 2019, Mr Gupta served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India.
The ministry is responsible for policies and programmes concerning labour welfare, employment, industrial relations and related regulatory matters.
His assignment involved central government administration in a sector with significant implications for workers, employers and the broader economy.
The position provided him with experience in policy implementation, coordination with government agencies and administration of labour-related programmes.
This central deputation assignment formed an important part of his career before his subsequent senior postings in Delhi.
Experience in Municipal Administration
Earlier in his career, Mr Gupta also served in senior municipal administration positions in Delhi.
Between 2011 and 2014, he held Commissioner and Additional Commissioner-level responsibilities associated with the South Delhi Municipal Corporation and related municipal administration.
These assignments involved urban civic governance, public services, municipal infrastructure and coordination of local administrative functions.
His municipal experience added to his expertise in urban management and public service delivery.
During the earlier phase of his IAS career, he also served in administrative assignments across territories covered by the AGMUT cadre, including Delhi, Arunachal Pradesh and Daman.
ACC Approves Secretary-Equivalent Empanelment
The latest decision by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approves Mr Gupta’s empanelment for Secretary-equivalent level posts at the Centre.
Empanelment is an administrative process through which eligible officers are assessed and approved for consideration for senior positions in the Government of India.
Secretary-equivalent positions carry responsibilities comparable in status to those of Secretary-level appointments, depending on the organisation and post concerned.
The ACC’s approval does not automatically result in an officer’s transfer or appointment.
A separate appointment order would be required if Mr Gupta is selected for a particular position.
Therefore, he continues to be identified as Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh unless a subsequent posting order changes his assignment.
Over Three Decades of Administrative Experience
Throughout his career, Mr Gupta has worked in several important areas of public administration.
His assignments have covered urban development, land management, labour policy, municipal governance, departmental administration and senior state-level coordination.
His service as Joint Secretary in the Union Government, Vice Chairman of the DDA, senior officer in the Delhi government and Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh reflects the range of administrative responsibilities he has undertaken.
With the ACC now approving his empanelment for Secretary-equivalent positions, the 1991-batch officer has become eligible for consideration for another senior assignment at the national level.
Any future appointment will depend on a separate decision of the competent authority.
