Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has placed significant trust in women officers by assigning three senior female IAS officers to key positions in the state’s Revenue Department, one of the most crucial departments responsible for land administration, revenue collection, land records, and policy implementation.
The department, often regarded as the backbone of the state’s administrative and financial framework, is currently being steered by three experienced officers – Archana Agrawal, Aparna U, and Kanchan Verma. Together, they occupy the top leadership positions within the department and are playing a critical role in shaping revenue administration across India’s most populous state.
Interestingly, two of the three officers, Archana Agrawal and Aparna U, are originally from Andhra Pradesh, while Kanchan Verma hails from Uttar Pradesh.
Archana Agrawal Appointed Chairperson of Uttar Pradesh Revenue Board
The Yogi Adityanath government recently appointed senior IAS officer Archana Agrawal, a 1990-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre officer, as the Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Board, one of the most influential positions in the state’s revenue administration.
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Prior to this appointment, she served as Additional Chief Secretary, Transport Department, and Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC).
Born on October 9, 1966, IAS Agrawal is originally from Andhra Pradesh. She holds a graduate degree in History, a postgraduate degree in Political Science, and an MBA in Financial Management from IGNOU.
Distinguished Administrative Career
After joining the IAS in August 1990, Ms Agrawal served in several important district-level assignments, including:
- Joint Magistrate in Bareilly and Aligarh
- Chief Development Officer in Ayodhya, Agra and Mainpuri
- District Magistrate and Collector of Sultanpur and Aligarh
- Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi and Saharanpur
At the state level, she held several significant positions, including:
- CEO of Greater Noida
- Transport Commissioner, Uttar Pradesh (2009–10)
- Principal Secretary, Milk Development Department
- Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies
Long Central Deputation
From February 2016 to October 2025, she served on central deputation, holding important positions such as:
- Joint Secretary, Ministry of Power
- Member Secretary, National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB)
Her performance at NCRPB was recognized with an upgradation of her position to the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
Upon her return to Uttar Pradesh in October 2025, she was appointed Additional Chief Secretary, Transport Department, and Chairperson of UPSRTC.
Her latest appointment as Chairperson of the Revenue Board is being viewed as recognition of her extensive administrative experience spanning over three decades.
Notably, Archana Agrawal is scheduled to retire from service on October 31, 2026.
Aparna U: Principal Secretary, Revenue Department
The second key member of the trio is Aparna U, a 2001-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, who has been serving as Principal Secretary, Revenue Department, since January 2026.
Born on November 10, 1975, in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Aparna U holds a degree in Law (LL.B.) and is proficient in English, Hindi and Telugu.
Diverse Administrative Experience
Over a career spanning more than two decades, she has held several important assignments, including:
- Joint Magistrate
- District Collector
- District Magistrate
- Secretary to Government
- Managing Director
- Additional Commissioner
Deputation to Andhra Pradesh
Between 2015 and 2017, Aparna U served on inter-cadre deputation in Andhra Pradesh as Deputy CEO of the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC). She later returned to Uttar Pradesh on personal grounds.
Key Leadership Roles in Uttar Pradesh
After her return, she held several important positions, including:
- Managing Director, Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL)
- Secretary, Irrigation and Water Resources Department
- Secretary, Medical Education Department
- Director General, Medical Education
In January 2026, she was appointed Principal Secretary, Revenue Department, placing her at the centre of policymaking and administrative oversight within the department.
Kanchan Verma: Commissioner and Secretary, Revenue Board
The third member of the leadership team is Ms Verma, a 2005-batch IAS officer who currently serves as Commissioner and Secretary, Revenue Board, Uttar Pradesh.
Born on September 3, 1977, in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, she holds a B.Ed degree and a Master’s degree in Sociology.
She has been serving in her current position since September 16, 2025.
Extensive District Administration Experience
Ms Verma’s administrative career includes postings as District Magistrate in several districts, including:
- Balrampur
- Bhadohi (Sant Ravidas Nagar)
- Shravasti
- Mirzapur
- Fatehpur
She began her career as Joint Magistrate in Sitapur in 2007 and later served as Chief Development Officer in Gautam Buddha Nagar.
Key State-Level Assignments
Apart from district administration, she has held several strategic positions, including:
- Special Secretary, Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation
- Special Secretary in multiple government departments
- Vice-Chairperson, Ghaziabad Development Authority
- Director General, School Education, Uttar Pradesh
Award-Winning Administrator
IAS Verma is widely known for her work in water conservation and public administration.
One of her most notable achievements came during her tenure as District Magistrate of Fatehpur, where she led the successful rejuvenation of the dried-up Sasur Khaderi-2 river and Thithora Lake, helping restore irrigation and generate local employment.
Her efforts earned her:
- Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration (2013–14)
- Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) International Innovation Award (2016)
As District Magistrate of Mirzapur, she also spearheaded reforms in education and sanitation, personally monitoring schools and accelerating open-defecation-free initiatives.
Women at the Helm of a Crucial Department
The Revenue Department remains one of the most important departments in Uttar Pradesh, overseeing land administration, revenue collection, land records management, land acquisition, dispute resolution and related policy matters.
With Archana Agrawal heading the Revenue Board, Aparna U serving as Principal Secretary, and Kanchan Verma functioning as Commissioner and Secretary of the Revenue Board, the department’s top leadership is now entirely in the hands of experienced women officers. In addition, Divya Mittal, a 2013-batch IAS officer who was recently transferred to the Revenue Department as Special Secretary, will be a strong pillar of support for the department.
The appointments reflect the Yogi Adityanath government’s continued emphasis on placing experienced women administrators in positions of strategic importance. Together, the three officers are expected to play a pivotal role in strengthening revenue administration, improving governance, and supporting Uttar Pradesh’s broader development goals in the years ahead.
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