New Delhi: Ms Anuradha Prasad, a distinguished civil servant and former Secretary to the Government of India, formally assumed office as Member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Friday. The oath of office and secrecy was administered to her by Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Retd.), the seniormost Member of the Commission.
A 1986-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), Ms. Prasad brings to the role more than 37 years of extensive experience in public administration, finance, policy-making, and cooperative federalism. Her appointment to the UPSC marks a continuation of her long-standing commitment to public service and governance.
Read Also: Who is IAS Sujata Chaturvedi, the Union Sports Secretary Appointed as UPSC Member?
A Trailblazing Career Across Key Ministries
Over nearly four decades, Ms. Prasad has served in pivotal capacities across several Union Ministries, including Defence, Finance, Food Processing Industries, Labour & Employment, and Home Affairs. Her assignments reflect a breadth of responsibility that spans strategic policy implementation, regulatory leadership, and institutional reform.
In the Ministry of Defence, she played a key role in procurement and financial oversight, including the acquisition of major defence platforms. As part of the Ministry of Finance, she oversaw financial operations for Defence Services and the Ordnance Factory Board, streamlining resource management in sensitive defence sectors.
While serving in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Ms. Prasad steered initiatives to enhance India’s agro-industrial capabilities, focusing on cold chain development, the establishment of food testing laboratories, and promoting innovation through research and development.
Her expertise also extended to the regulatory domain, having served as a member of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET).
Contributions to Labour Reforms and COVID-19 Response
As Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Ms. Prasad was instrumental in the formulation of the Labour Codes—sweeping legislative reforms aimed at simplifying and consolidating India’s complex labour laws. She also oversaw the development of the e-Shram portal, India’s first national database of unorganized sector workers, which emerged as a vital tool during the pandemic response.
During the height of the COVID-19 crisis, she served as Director General of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), where she led major health and social security initiatives to safeguard millions of workers and their families.
Strengthening Federalism and Post-Retirement Engagements
In her most recent government position as Secretary of the Inter State Council Secretariat, Ministry of Home Affairs, she played a central role in fostering Centre-State cooperation and building consensus on critical issues of national interest.
After her retirement from the civil service, Ms. Prasad continued her public engagement as a Member of the Police Complaints Authority under the Government of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, contributing to transparency and accountability in law enforcement.
Academic Excellence and a Legacy of Public Service
Ms. Prasad is an alumna of Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University, where she earned her undergraduate degree in History. She holds a Master’s in History from the University of Delhi and a second Master’s in Development Administration from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Her appointment to the UPSC is seen as a valuable addition to the Commission, which plays a critical role in selecting India’s future civil servants. With her deep understanding of governance and wide-ranging administrative expertise, Ms. Prasad is expected to bring unique insights into the selection process and public policy orientation of the nation’s civil services.
