Anju Sharma IAS empanelled as Secretary
Smt Anju Sharma IAS (Gujarat 1991) has been empanelled as Secretary at the Centre.
Anju Sharma IAS: A Distinguished Administrator Advancing Social and Economic Governance
Among the senior civil servants who have played a significant role in strengthening governance in Gujarat, Anju Sharma, an IAS officer of the 1991 batch (Gujarat cadre), is widely recognized for her extensive administrative experience and thoughtful leadership across diverse sectors. Over more than three decades in public service, Smt. Sharma has worked in areas ranging from labour and employment to education, disaster management, health, and women and child development, reflecting a career marked by versatility and institutional commitment.
Academically accomplished, Smt. Sharma holds a postgraduate degree in Marketing, graduating with first division. She further enhanced her academic credentials by pursuing a Master’s degree in International Development Policy from Duke University, USA, also graduating with distinction. This strong academic background has contributed to her policy-oriented approach and her ability to engage with complex governance challenges in both developmental and administrative contexts.
Currently, Smt. Sharma serves as Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Labour and Employment, Government of Gujarat. In this role, she is associated with initiatives aimed at strengthening employment frameworks, improving labour welfare systems, and promoting skill development in alignment with the evolving economic landscape. Managing labour and employment policies requires coordination with industry, workers’ organizations, and multiple government departments, and her experience has been instrumental in advancing administrative coordination in this important sector.
Prior to this assignment, she served as Principal Secretary in the Higher Education Department of Gujarat, where she played an important role in policy initiatives related to universities, technical education institutions, and higher learning frameworks in the state. The higher education sector is critical for building human capital and supporting economic growth, and her tenure contributed to strengthening institutional governance in the academic ecosystem.
Another important phase of her career was her association with the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority, where she served both as Chief Executive Officer and later as Principal Secretary. Disaster management in a state like Gujarat requires strong institutional preparedness, coordination among multiple agencies, and long-term planning for risk mitigation. Her leadership in the authority helped strengthen the administrative systems responsible for disaster preparedness and response.
Smt. Sharma also served as Commissioner and Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, where she worked on programmes focused on improving welfare initiatives for women and children. The department is responsible for implementing several social development programmes, and her tenure involved strengthening institutional mechanisms for delivering these services effectively.
Earlier, she played an important role in the health sector as Mission Director of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in Gujarat, where she was associated with improving healthcare service delivery, especially in rural areas. Her responsibilities also included serving as Commissioner of Health, Medical Services and Medical Education, further broadening her engagement with the public health system.
Smt. Sharma’s career has also included assignments at the central government level. She served in the Department of Commerce, Government of India, first as Deputy Secretary and later as Director, contributing to policy matters related to commerce and industry. This exposure to national-level policy processes added an important dimension to her administrative experience.
At the state level, she has held several key roles in the Environment and Forests Department, including Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary, where she worked on environmental governance and policy coordination.
Her earlier administrative career included important field assignments such as District Collector of Bharuch and Amreli, where she oversaw district administration, development programmes, and public service delivery. These roles are considered foundational in the administrative journey of an IAS officer, providing direct engagement with citizens and grassroots governance.
Smt. Sharma also served as District Development Officer in Vadodara and Gandhinagar, where she was involved in implementing development programmes and strengthening local administrative systems. Her initial years in service included her role as Assistant Collector in Rajkot, marking the beginning of a career dedicated to public service and governance.
Over the years, Smt. Anju Sharma has earned recognition as a capable and thoughtful administrator, known for her ability to manage complex institutional responsibilities while maintaining a clear focus on development outcomes. Her career trajectory—from district administration to senior leadership roles in the state government—illustrates the depth and breadth of experience that senior civil servants bring to governance.
Profiles and career developments of officers like her frequently appear in Indian Bureaucracy Latest News, reflecting the important role experienced administrators continue to play in shaping governance systems. As consistently documented by indianbureaucracy.com, the professional journeys of senior officers such as Smt. Anju Sharma provide valuable insight into the evolving landscape of public administration in India.
With decades of experience across multiple sectors and a strong commitment to public service, Smt. Anju Sharma continues to contribute meaningfully to the strengthening of governance institutions and the advancement of development initiatives in Gujarat.
Indian Bureaucracy News Network wishes Smt Anju Sharma the very best.