IAS Officer Meeta R. Lochan has been appointed as the Secretary of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. She is set to assume this role following the retirement of A. Neeraja (1990-batch Indian Forest Service officer) on May 31, 2025.
Ms. Lochan is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1990 Maharashtra cadre. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Lochan served as the Secretary in the Department of Youth Affairs under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in expanding Project SARTHI, a volunteer-driven initiative aimed at enhancing patient care in hospitals. Under her leadership, the project was scaled to 250 hospitals across 25 states, with plans to extend it to over 700 hospitals nationwide.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Lochan held significant positions, including Additional Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in Mumbai, where she was also assigned the additional charge of Development Commissioner for the Santa Cruz Exclusive Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ). She has also served as the Member Secretary of the National Commission for Women, contributing to policy formulation and advocacy on women’s issues.
Ms. Lochan’s extensive experience across various sectors underscores her commitment to public service and her capability to handle diverse administrative responsibilities.
National Commission for Backward Classes
The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) is a constitutional body established under Article 338B of the Indian Constitution to safeguard the rights and interests of socially and educationally backward classes. It advises the government on inclusion or exclusion from the OBC list and monitors the implementation of welfare policies for backward communities.
