Rajeev Singh Thakur IAS empanelled as Secretary
Shri Rajeev Singh Thakur IAS (Rajasthan 1995) has been empanelled as Secretary at the Centre.
Shri Rajeev Singh Thakur, an accomplished officer of the Indian Administrative Service, has built a distinguished career marked by wide-ranging administrative experience, policy insight, and a steady commitment to strengthening governance across sectors. With a professional journey spanning district administration, rural development, defence policy, and industrial promotion, he represents the versatility and depth that characterize many senior leaders within the Indian civil services.
Academically, Shri Thakur possesses a strong foundation in both science and economics. He graduated with a degree in Physics, followed by a postgraduate qualification in Economics, securing First Class. This combination of analytical and socio-economic understanding has proved valuable in his administrative career, enabling him to approach governance challenges with both technical reasoning and policy perspective.
Over the course of his service, Shri Rajeev Singh Thakur has held several important positions at the Union Government level. Most recently, he has been serving as Adviser (Additional Secretary equivalent) at NITI Aayog in New Delhi since December 2024. In this role, he is associated with policy coordination and personnel-related matters, contributing to institutional strengthening and governance reforms at the national level.
Prior to this assignment, he served as Additional Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry from December 2021 to December 2024. In this capacity, he was closely involved with policies aimed at promoting industry, improving the ease of doing business, and supporting India’s industrial growth and investment ecosystem.
Shri Thakur also has significant experience in the strategic sector of national defence. Between 2017 and 2021, he served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, including in the Department of Military Affairs. During this period, he worked on important policy and administrative matters related to defence management and coordination, contributing to the strengthening of institutional processes within the defence establishment.
His earlier tenure in the Government of Rajasthan reflects a deep engagement with development administration and grassroots governance. He served as Secretary to the Government in the Food and Civil Supplies Department, where he was associated with public distribution and consumer welfare programmes. Additionally, he served as Secretary and Mission Director for Livelihood Projects and Self-Help Groups in Jaipur, playing a role in promoting community-based development initiatives and strengthening rural livelihoods.
Another significant assignment was his role as Secretary-cum-Commissioner in the Rural Development and Employment Guarantee Scheme Department in Rajasthan. In this capacity, Shri Thakur oversaw key rural development programmes, including employment generation initiatives, contributing to strengthening rural infrastructure and livelihood opportunities across the state.
Earlier in his career, Shri Thakur served in the Government of India as Director in the Power sector, gaining exposure to national energy policy and sectoral coordination. He also worked closely with senior leadership as Private Secretary in the Ministries of Road Transport and Highways and Rural Development, providing policy and administrative support at the highest levels of government.
His experience in district administration has been particularly extensive and formative. Shri Rajeev Singh Thakur served as District Collector and District Magistrate in several districts of Rajasthan, including Sri Ganganagar, Karauli, Alwar, Bhilwara, and Banswara. These assignments involved overseeing law and order, implementing development programmes, and coordinating government initiatives at the grassroots level. Such roles provided him with firsthand experience in public service delivery and local governance.
Earlier assignments also include serving as Additional Collector in Jaipur and Rajsamand, as well as Sub-Divisional Officer in Rajsamand and Pali. These roles enabled him to build strong administrative foundations while working closely with local communities and development institutions.
Throughout his career, Shri Rajeev Singh Thakur has demonstrated a balanced blend of administrative competence, policy understanding, and field-level experience. His professional journey reflects steady growth through diverse and challenging assignments, both in the state and at the national level. With his extensive exposure to governance, public policy, and development administration, he continues to contribute meaningfully to the evolving landscape of public administration in India.
Indian Bureaucracy News Network wishes Shri Rajeev Singh Thakur the very best.