The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has announced that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Smt. Bharati, an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of the 1992 batch (Sikkim cadre), as the Director of the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun.
Smt. Bharati currently serves as the Principal Secretary (Development & Coordination) in the Planning & Development Department, Government of Sikkim. With a distinguished career in the Indian Forest Service, she has held several key positions at both the state and central levels.
Notably, she served as Inspector General of Forests on deputation to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) from June 14, 2019, with her tenure initially set until February 13, 2021, and extendable up to seven years. Her appointment was made by upgrading and shifting a post of DIGF from the Ministry of Rural Development to MoEF&CC.
During her tenure as IGF, Smt. Bharati spearheaded several initiatives aimed at enhancing forest protection and sustainable management at the national level. While briefly overseeing the IFS Division, she implemented systemic reforms that significantly improved transparency and efficiency in cadre management – a critical function in the service’s administrative architecture.
Her new role as Director of IGNFA places her at the helm of one of India’s premier training institutions for forest officers. Established in 1938 as the Indian Forest College, the Academy was later renamed and functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It plays a pivotal role in grooming senior officers of the Indian Forest Service, equipping them with the skills and knowledge required to manage the country’s forest resources.
This appointment underscores the government’s trust in Smt. Bharati’s leadership and experience in advancing forest governance and administrative training.
