New Delhi: Senior IAS officer Anurag Jain (IAS:1989:MP) has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog, India’s premier public policy think tank, marking another significant milestone in his distinguished administrative career spanning nearly four decades.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved his appointment with immediate effect. As Indian Masterminds had predicted in its June report, the seasoned bureaucrat has now been entrusted with one of the most influential policy-making roles in the Government of India.
According to the official order, Jain will serve as CEO of NITI Aayog for the duration of his approved extension in service and thereafter continue in the post for an overall period of two years or until further orders, whichever is earlier. His appointment will be governed by the same terms and conditions as his predecessor.
With extensive experience in governance, infrastructure, finance, industrial development, and public policy, Jain is expected to strengthen NITI Aayog’s role in advancing cooperative federalism, evidence-based policymaking, innovation, and the government’s Viksit Bharat vision.
Nearly Four Decades of Administrative Excellence
Anurag Jain belongs to the 1989 batch of the Madhya Pradesh cadre of the Indian Administrative Service. Throughout his career, he has held several prestigious assignments in both the Government of Madhya Pradesh and the Government of India, earning a reputation as an efficient administrator and policy strategist.
Most recently, he served as the 35th Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, taking charge in October 2024. He succeeded Veera Rana (IAS:1988:MP) and subsequently received two service extensions before his appointment as CEO of NITI Aayog.
Before returning to his home cadre, Jain was serving as Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India.
Read also: Who Will Be the Next NITI Aayog CEO? IAS Anurag Jain Leads Race as Centre Weighs Top Bureaucrats
Education and Early Life
Born on August 11, 1965, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, Anurag Jain has an impressive academic background.
He completed his B.Tech (Honours) in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur in 1986. Later, after joining the IAS, he pursued a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the prestigious Maxwell School, Syracuse University, USA.
Apart from academics, Jain is also an accomplished sportsman. An avid tennis player, he has won 11 national-level awards and has also represented Madhya Pradesh in cricket.
Entry into the IAS
After joining the IAS in 1989, Jain began his administrative career as Assistant Collector in Sagar in June 1990.
He subsequently served in several important field assignments, including:
- Khurai
- Kanker (now in Chhattisgarh)
- Chhindwara
- Durg (now in Chhattisgarh)
His first posting as District Collector came in Mandla in 1997, followed by tenures as Collector of Mandsaur and Bhopal.
These grassroots assignments laid the foundation for his later contributions to governance and public administration.
Transforming Governance in Madhya Pradesh
During his tenure in Madhya Pradesh, Jain emerged as one of the architects of modern governance reforms.
While serving as Secretary to former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for more than five years, he played a pivotal role in conceptualising and implementing the Public Service Guarantee Act, one of India’s most significant governance reforms.
The legislation transformed public service delivery by introducing time-bound citizen services and was later replicated by nearly 15 states across the country.
As Secretary, Information Technology, he spearheaded several digital governance initiatives, including the introduction of e-tendering in government procurement, significantly enhancing transparency.
His efforts also helped improve Madhya Pradesh’s ranking in national e-Readiness Assessments, earning the prestigious Web Ratna Award.
Later, as Principal Secretary/Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) under the Kamal Nath government in 2019, he managed the state’s financial planning and fiscal reforms.
Key Assignments at the Centre
Anurag Jain has spent a substantial part of his career on central deputation, handling several strategically important assignments.
One of his most significant contributions came during his tenure in the Ministry of Finance, where he played a crucial role in conceptualising and implementing the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)—today regarded as the world’s largest financial inclusion programme.
Between 2011 and 2015, he served as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), advising on major policy initiatives.
He later held several high-profile positions, including:
- Vice Chairman, Delhi Development Authority (DDA)
- Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
- Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Architect of PM Gati Shakti
Among Jain’s most notable achievements is his leadership in designing and implementing the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, one of India’s largest integrated infrastructure planning initiatives.
The programme brought together 18 ministries onto a unified digital platform to improve infrastructure planning and execution across sectors.
His contribution earned him the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2023, one of the country’s highest recognitions for civil servants.
Driving Industrial Growth in Madhya Pradesh
As Chief Secretary, Jain focused on transforming Madhya Pradesh into a preferred investment destination.
Under his leadership, the state accelerated reforms in:
- Ease of Doing Business
- Semiconductor manufacturing
- Drone technology
- Animation and gaming
- Global Capability Centres (GCCs)
- Industrial parks
- Renewable energy manufacturing
- Multi-modal logistics infrastructure
The state also introduced several new industrial policies aimed at attracting domestic and global investments while simplifying regulatory approvals through initiatives such as “Start Your Business in 30 Days.”
He also promoted integrated industrial parks with pre-approved environmental clearances and worker housing under the public-private partnership model.
Leadership at NITI Aayog
As the new CEO of NITI Aayog, Anurag Jain will oversee the country’s apex public policy institution responsible for supporting the Centre and states in designing and implementing development strategies.
His responsibilities will include:
- Promoting cooperative and competitive federalism.
- Driving evidence-based policy formulation.
- Supporting national development priorities.
- Coordinating policy implementation across ministries and states.
- Advancing innovation, infrastructure, digital governance and inclusive growth.
- Contributing to the government’s long-term vision of Viksit Bharat.
Given his vast experience across infrastructure, finance, industrial policy, governance reforms, and public administration, Jain’s appointment is expected to further strengthen NITI Aayog’s role in shaping India’s development agenda.
A Career Marked by Reform and Innovation
From implementing landmark governance reforms in Madhya Pradesh and helping design the Public Service Guarantee Act to shaping transformative national initiatives such as PM Jan Dhan Yojana and PM Gati Shakti, Anurag Jain has consistently played key roles in some of India’s most impactful public policy initiatives.
His appointment as CEO of NITI Aayog marks another important chapter in a career defined by administrative excellence, institutional reforms, infrastructure development, and innovative policymaking.
Read also: Madhya Pradesh 2.0: Anurag Jain’s Blueprint for a Modern State
