With Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta set to retire soon, the Himachal Pradesh government has initiated the process of selection of the stateโs next top bureaucrat.
Sources in the government confirmed that they’re comprehensively evaluating seniority, experience, and overall performance before a final decision is made.
Among the leading names is Kamlesh Kumar Pant of the 1993 batch. He is currently the senior-most officer in the state cadre and is serving as Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue).
Another strong contender is Onkar Chand Sharma of the 1994 batch. He is currently serving as Additional Chief Secretary (Tribal Development).
Senior IAS officer Bharat Harbanslal Khera of the 1995 batch is also being seen as a possible choice. He is presently working on central deputation as Secretary in the Ministry of MSME.
Anuradha Thakur, also from the 1994 batch, is senior to Onkar Sharma in the gradation list. While officials believe her return from the Centre is unlikely at this stage because of her important role in the Union Government, it is our assessment that this very fact makes her a very strong possibility.
However, no one would argue that IAS Anuradha Thakur does not suit the job. In fact, she has a very strong profile and service record.
Anuradha Thakur, a 1994-batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service from the Himachal Pradesh cadre, is currently serving as Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs. She assumed charge on July 1, 2025, becoming the first woman to head the department, which plays a central role in shaping Indiaโs macroeconomic policy, financial sector coordination, and budget formulation.
Born on March 12, 1970, in Bihar, Thakur holds a masterโs degree in Psychology from Delhi University and has also pursued studies in development economics at the London School of Economics. Her career in the civil service has included assignments spanning corporate regulation, financial policy, and public sector reform.
Before her elevation as Secretary, she served as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, where she also held additional charge as Director of the Serious Fraud Investigation Office. In these roles, she was involved in oversight of corporate governance frameworks and investigations into major financial irregularities.
Earlier in her career, Thakur worked closely on financial sector initiatives linked to disinvestment and capital markets. She contributed to policy processes associated with the governmentโs asset monetisation efforts and the disinvestment of Air India. She was also associated with the launch of the Bharat Bond ETF, an initiative aimed at broadening retail participation in corporate debt markets.
In her current capacity, Thakur oversees the Department of Economic Affairsโ work on fiscal management, external financing, and economic policy coordination. She also represents the government in key financial institutions, serving as a director on the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India and as a member of the board of the Securities and Exchange Board of India. In addition, she serves as Alternate Governor for India at the African Development Bank.
There are absolutely no doubts whatsoever that as the Chief Secretary of a state she can do wonders. Anuradha Thakur has had an exemplary career and currently has three years left of her service.
