New Delhi: In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Ms. Nidhi Chhibber, a seasoned 1994 batch IAS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, as the Director General of the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) under NITI Aayog. With this appointment, Ms. Chhibber will serve at the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India.
The official order also cancels her earlier appointment as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), which had been issued on April 18, 2025. That position had been assigned to prepare her to take over from the outgoing Secretary of MoFPI, Mr. Subrata Gupta (IAS: 1990: WB), who is due to retire on May 31, 2025.
Prior to this development, Ms. Chhibber was serving as Additional Secretary in NITI Aayog. Her tenure in that role had been extended by two months in March 2025, as approved by the ACC and conveyed through an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on March 6.
A Distinguished Career in Public Service
Ms. Nidhi Chhibber, born on June 24, 1969, in Haryana, holds a Master’s degree in History, an LLB, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights. Her multifaceted academic background has bolstered her wide-ranging administrative expertise.
She joined the Indian Administrative Service on September 4, 1994, and has served in various critical roles both in her home cadre of Chhattisgarh and at the central level. Among her many roles in Chhattisgarh, she notably served as the District Collector of Janjgir-Champa and as Secretary of the General Administration Department. She also held the position of Chief Electoral Officer in the state.
Journey Through Central Deputation
Ms. Chhibber’s journey at the central level began in 2017 when she sought central deputation. Initially appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, her posting was delayed due to the Chhattisgarh government’s reluctance to relieve her. This led to a five-year debarment from central deputation, a decision she challenged successfully in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). Following a favorable ruling, she reapplied and was once again posted as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence.
She later served as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Heavy Industries and in May 2022, she was appointed Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Her appointment to CBSE faced legal scrutiny, with a petition in the Supreme Court questioning her educational sector experience. However, the government clarified that she had served as Director in the Education Department for 48 months, satisfying the experience requirements.
In March 2024, Ms. Chhibber was appointed as Advisor to NITI Aayog, continuing her deep engagement with national-level policy planning and implementation.
Personal Life
Ms. Chhibber is married to Mr. Vikassheel, a fellow 1994 batch IAS officer from the Chhattisgarh cadre. Mr. Vikassheel is currently serving as Executive Director at the Asian Development Bank.
Looking Ahead
As Director General of DMEO, Ms. Chhibber is expected to play a crucial role in strengthening data-driven governance and enhancing the monitoring and evaluation framework of government schemes and programs. Her diverse administrative experience and policy insight are anticipated to contribute significantly to the ongoing reform and development agenda spearheaded by NITI Aayog.
