Vivek Aggarwal IAS given additional charge of Secretary- Ministry of Tourism
Shri Vivek Aggarwal IAS (Madhya Pradesh 1994) presently Secretary- Ministry of Culture has been given the additional charge of Secretary- Ministry of Tourism from 03.07.2026 to 19.07.2026 during the period of absence on leave of Shri Bhuvnesh Kurnar IAS (Uttar Pradesh 1995).
About IAS Vivek Aggarwal | Shri Vivek Aggarwal is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1994 batch from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, whose distinguished career spans more than three decades across public administration, finance, agriculture, urban development, infrastructure, industry, and culture. Recognised for his strategic approach to governance and his ability to manage complex administrative assignments, he has served in several key leadership positions in both the Government of Madhya Pradesh and the Government of India, contributing significantly to policy formulation and institutional development.
Presently, Shri Aggarwal serves as Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, a position he assumed in April 2025. As the administrative head of the Ministry, he is responsible for overseeing the preservation, promotion, and dissemination of India’s rich cultural heritage. His responsibilities extend across museums, archives, libraries, monuments, cultural institutions, performing arts, and initiatives that seek to safeguard and celebrate the country’s diverse traditions. At a time when India is placing renewed emphasis on cultural diplomacy and heritage conservation, his leadership is helping strengthen institutional frameworks while encouraging greater public engagement with the nation’s cultural legacy.
Before taking charge of the Ministry of Culture, Shri Aggarwal served as Additional Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, from December 2021 to April 2025. During this tenure, he played an important role in matters relating to revenue administration, taxation policy, regulatory reforms, and financial governance. His experience in one of the Union Government’s most critical departments further strengthened his understanding of economic administration and public finance. Between December 2022 and March 2023, he also held the additional charge of Director, Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND), contributing to efforts aimed at strengthening financial intelligence, combating money laundering, and enhancing coordination among regulatory agencies.
Earlier, Shri Aggarwal served in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, first as Joint Secretary and subsequently as Additional Secretary. In these assignments, he was associated with policy initiatives designed to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen farmer welfare programmes, promote market reforms, and encourage sustainable agricultural development. His contributions reflected a balanced understanding of both policy design and implementation, particularly in a sector that remains central to India’s economy.
His long and impactful association with the Government of Madhya Pradesh saw him occupy several senior leadership positions. As Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, he played a pivotal role in coordinating governance initiatives, monitoring key development programmes, and facilitating policy implementation across departments. During the same period, he also served as Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Urban Development, and as Managing Director of the Metro Rail Project, where he contributed to urban infrastructure planning, sustainable mobility, and modernisation of civic services. These concurrent responsibilities highlighted his ability to manage multiple high-profile assignments with effectiveness and administrative clarity.
Prior to these roles, Shri Aggarwal served as Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Urban Development and Municipal Administration Department, where he worked towards strengthening municipal governance, improving urban infrastructure, and promoting better service delivery in rapidly growing cities. His tenure coincided with a period of expanding urbanisation, requiring innovative solutions for infrastructure development and urban management.
An important chapter of his career was his tenure as Secretary to the Chief Minister, during which he was closely associated with governance reforms, policy coordination, and implementation of flagship programmes. Simultaneously, he served as Managing Director and Controller of the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation, overseeing initiatives related to road infrastructure development, connectivity, and public works that contributed to the state’s economic growth and regional integration.
His experience also extends to industrial and agricultural sectors. As Managing Director of the Madhya Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation, Shri Aggarwal worked on industrial promotion, investment facilitation, and infrastructure development. Subsequently, as Managing Director and Controller of the State Agricultural Marketing Board, he contributed to strengthening agricultural marketing systems, improving market infrastructure, and supporting initiatives benefiting farmers and agricultural trade.
At the district level, Shri Aggarwal has held the prestigious position of District Collector in Rajgarh, Ujjain, and Indore. These assignments provided him with extensive grassroots administrative experience encompassing revenue administration, law and order, disaster management, developmental planning, and implementation of welfare programmes. His tenure as Collector of Indore, one of Madhya Pradesh’s largest commercial and industrial centres, was particularly significant in managing the challenges of urban governance alongside economic development.
His administrative exposure was further enriched through inter-cadre deputation in Punjab, where he served as Additional Deputy Commissioner in Bathinda and later as Deputy Commissioner of Kapurthala. These assignments broadened his administrative perspective by exposing him to governance challenges in a different state and administrative environment.
Shri Aggarwal began his civil services journey with grassroots assignments as Chief Executive Officer, Zila Panchayat, Tikamgarh, followed by postings as Sub-Divisional Officer in Gwalior and other districts. These early responsibilities laid a strong foundation in rural development, district administration, land revenue management, and public service delivery, shaping his practical understanding of governance from the grassroots upward.
Academically, Shri Aggarwal possesses an equally impressive background. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, securing First Division, before pursuing a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), where he again graduated with First Division. His educational qualifications have provided him with a robust understanding of finance, economics, law, and governance, enabling him to approach administrative challenges with analytical rigour and legal insight.
Throughout his distinguished career, Shri Vivek Aggarwal has consistently demonstrated versatility, sound administrative judgment, and an ability to lead complex institutions across diverse sectors. Whether in finance, agriculture, urban development, infrastructure, industry, or culture, he has successfully combined policy vision with effective execution. His rich administrative experience, coupled with a commitment to responsive governance and institutional excellence, has established him as one of India’s accomplished senior civil servants. As Secretary, Ministry of Culture, he continues to play an important role in preserving India’s civilisational heritage while contributing to the nation’s broader governance and development agenda.
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Indian Bureaucracy News wishes Shri Vivek Aggarwal the very best.