Manisha Verma IAS empanelled as Secretary
Smt Manisha Verma IAS (Maharashtra 1993) has been empanelled as Secretary at the Centre.
Ms Manisha Verma is a senior Indian Administrative Service officer known for her extensive experience in public policy, governance, finance, skill development, tribal welfare, and industrial development. With a distinguished career spanning over three decades in both the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra, she has held several key leadership positions in administration, policy formulation, and institutional management. Her academic background and diverse administrative assignments have contributed significantly to her reputation as a capable policy professional and administrator.
Manisha Verma has an impressive academic profile. She completed her B.A. (Honours) in History from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi, followed by LL.B. from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, specializing in Civil and Criminal Law, where she graduated with First Division. She further pursued M.A. in Human Rights from Pondicherry University and M.A. in Governance and Development from University of Sussex, graduating with Merit. Adding to her global academic credentials, she completed a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University, where she earned Grade ‘A’ in Public Policy and Management.
In the Government of Maharashtra, she currently serves as Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Financial Corporation (MSFC), Mumbai, a position she assumed in September 2023. In this role, she oversees financial support initiatives aimed at strengthening industrial and entrepreneurial development across the state. She also served as Managing Director and Principal Secretary (Secretary Equivalent) in the Commerce and Industries Department of the Government of Maharashtra, where she contributed to policy initiatives related to industrial development and investment promotion.
Earlier, she served as Additional Chief Secretary in the Department of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in the Maharashtra government, reflecting her significant role in strengthening workforce development and skill training initiatives in the state. Prior to that, she was Principal Secretary to Government in the Department of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, where she led efforts to expand vocational training and employment-oriented programmes.
Her experience also includes leadership roles in culture, tourism, and social development. She served as Managing Director of the Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development Corporation in Mumbai, where she contributed to the promotion and development of cultural industries in the state. In addition, she worked extensively in the Tribal Development Department of the Government of Maharashtra, serving as Secretary and later as Principal Secretary. In these positions, she played a crucial role in policy implementation and welfare initiatives aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of Scheduled Tribes across the state.
Earlier in her career, she held several significant assignments with the Government of India. She worked in the Drinking Water Supply division of the Ministry of Rural Development, where she served as Deputy Secretary and later Director, handling programmes related to rural drinking water and water resource management. She also served in the Higher Education division of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, contributing to policy initiatives aimed at strengthening India’s higher education system.
Manisha Verma also served as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, where she was associated with the National Advisory Council, working on policy planning and programme implementation at the national level. This assignment provided her with valuable exposure to high-level policy formulation and coordination across ministries.
Her field-level administrative experience is equally significant. She served as District Collector of Amravati, Solapur, and Nagpur, where she handled district governance, development programmes, and public service delivery. Earlier in her career, she served as Additional Commissioner in Thane, as well as Project Officer in Nashik, gaining extensive grassroots administrative experience in rural development and social welfare programmes.
Over the course of her career, Manisha Verma has worked across diverse sectors including finance, education, tribal welfare, rural development, culture, industry, and skill development. Her international academic exposure combined with her extensive administrative experience has enabled her to contribute to governance reforms and development initiatives at both the state and national levels. Her work continues to be widely recognized in discussions around governance and leadership within the Indian Bureaucracy, reflecting her long-standing commitment to public service and institutional development.
Indian Bureaucracy News Network wishes Smt Manisha Verma the very best.