New Delhi: In a significant appointment at the Centre, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Ravi Mittal as Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office for a period of four years.
Ravi Mittal, a 2016-batch IAS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, is among the younger officers from the state cadre to be entrusted with a key assignment in the Prime Minister’s Office, reflecting the Centre’s confidence in his administrative abilities and policy experience developed through multiple important assignments in Chhattisgarh.
ACC Clears Appointment for Four-Year Central Deputation
According to the official order, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Ravi Mittal’s appointment as Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office for a tenure of four years.
His move to the PMO comes after a series of important state-level assignments in governance, public communication, district administration and chief ministerial secretariat coordination.
The posting is considered a significant milestone in the career of the young IAS officer, especially given the strategic nature of assignments handled within the PMO, where officers are involved in inter-ministerial coordination, policy review and high-level administrative monitoring.
Present Roles in Chhattisgarh Before PMO Appointment
Before his central deputation, Ravi Mittal was serving as Commissioner in the Public Relations Department of Chhattisgarh and was also holding additional charge as Chief Executive Officer of Samvad.
Samvad plays a key role in state communication outreach, policy messaging and public engagement.
He had also been serving as Joint Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat of Chhattisgarh as of August 2025, placing him close to the core policy and administrative decision-making structure of the state government.
These assignments gave him exposure to governance at both executive and communication levels, strengthening his administrative profile before his move to the Centre.
Doctor-Turned-Bureaucrat with Strong Academic Background
Ravi Mittal belongs to a new generation of highly academically accomplished IAS officers.
Born on June 13, 1993, he hails from Uttar Pradesh and pursued medicine before entering public administration.
He completed his M.B.B.S. in Medicine and Surgery from University of Delhi, a background that distinguishes him from many of his administrative peers.
He later pursued an M.A. in Public Management from Jawaharlal Nehru University, combining medical education with public policy training.
This blend of medicine and governance has often been cited as a strength in his administrative approach, especially in welfare delivery and technology-based governance.
Administrative Journey in Chhattisgarh
After joining the IAS as part of the 2016 batch, Ravi Mittal quickly moved through several field and secretariat assignments in Chhattisgarh.
He earlier served as CEO of Zila Panchayat in Mahasamund and later in Raipur, where he handled grassroots governance, rural administration and development implementation.
These assignments provided him with district-level institutional experience and direct exposure to rural administrative systems.
Collector of Jashpur: A Defining Field Posting
One of his most notable assignments came as District Collector of Jashpur, a tribal-majority district known for geographical challenges and difficult terrain.
During his tenure there, Ravi Mittal earned attention for introducing technology-led governance initiatives aimed at improving public service delivery in remote areas.
Officials noted that his administration focused heavily on using digital tools to improve beneficiary identification and ensure welfare delivery in inaccessible hilly regions.
Technology-Driven Rural Governance Initiatives
While serving in Jashpur, Ravi Mittal promoted digital literacy and skill-building initiatives among students.
One of the notable interventions included introducing coding and graphics training in rural educational settings, aiming to bridge the digital divide for students in tribal and remote areas.
The initiative was seen as an effort to prepare rural youth for future employment opportunities linked to technology and digital services.
Rural Industrial Parks and Employment Generation
Ravi Mittal also played an active role in promoting rural industrial development through REPAS (Rural Industrial Parks).
These parks focused on local economic strengths and value-added products.
Particular emphasis was placed on products such as Mahua and tea, both important to local livelihoods and tribal economic activity.
The model aimed to generate decentralized employment while encouraging local entrepreneurship.
Public Relations and Governance Communication Role
As Commissioner of Public Relations, Ravi Mittal handled one of the most visible governance communication portfolios in Chhattisgarh.
His role involved policy dissemination, public messaging and state communication strategy.
Combined with his CEO role in Samvad, he became one of the key officers involved in government outreach and administrative communication architecture.
Move to PMO Seen as Recognition of Administrative Potential
His appointment to the Prime Minister’s Office is being viewed in bureaucratic circles as recognition of his rising administrative stature.
A relatively young officer with field, secretariat and communication experience, Ravi Mittal brings a multidimensional profile to the PMO.
His medical education, governance training and district-level innovations make him part of a growing group of officers with cross-sector administrative exposure being brought into central policy structures.
Significance of PMO Assignment
The Deputy Secretary role in the Prime Minister’s Office is considered one of the most important mid-career central assignments for IAS officers.
Officers posted in the PMO are often involved in:
• coordination with ministries
• monitoring flagship schemes
• policy review
• strategic governance communication
• administrative tracking of national priorities
For a 2016-batch officer, such a posting is considered both prestigious and career-defining.
