As of October 2025, Parikipandla Narahari, a 2001-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, serves as Principal Secretary, Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Government of Madhya Pradesh. Promoted to the rank of Principal Secretary in January 2025, he has steadily advanced through a career marked by administrative innovation and citizen-centric governance.
A Mechanical Engineering graduate with distinction, Narahari began his administrative journey as Assistant Collector in Chhindwara and later served as Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Gwalior and Indore. His tenure as District Collector in Seoni, Singrauli, and Gwalior was defined by effective governance and inclusive initiatives. In Gwalior, he worked to make public spaces more accessible for persons with disabilities, while in Singrauli, he oversaw a notably peaceful land acquisition process.
As Collector of Indore, Narahari led transformative civic initiatives that propelled the city to the top of the Swachh Survekshan rankings in 2017, a milestone in India’s urban sanitation drive. His engagement with citizens through social media, promoting transparency and responsiveness in governance, earned him national recognition — including a place among The Better India’s “Top 10 Most Inspiring IAS Officers” in 2017.
At the state level, he has held key positions such as Commissioner, Public Relations, Commissioner, Urban Administration, Secretary, MSME Industries Department, Commissioner of Industries, and Secretary, Sports & Youth Welfare, contributing to sectoral development and policy innovation.
In 2025, he led a state delegation on sustainable water management, underscoring his role in shaping public health infrastructure and resource efficiency.
Beyond administration, Narahari is an author and motivational speaker, known for works like Who Owns Mhow?, The Making of Ladli Laxmi Yojna, ‘Betiyaan’ and ‘Swacch Indore’ reflecting his engagement with governance reform and social empowerment.
