Uttarakhand

Shri Anand Bardhan: Journey to the Helm of Uttarakhand’s Bureaucracy

Anuj Gaur — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:10:36 +0000

When Shri Anand Bardhan assumed charge as the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand on April 1, 2025, he brought with him more than three decades of wide-ranging administrative experience. A 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Uttarakhand cadre, Bardhan’s career is marked by a steady progression through critical roles that span governance, finance, environment, infrastructure, and rural development — both within India and abroad .

Born on June 12, 1967, in Bihar, Shri Anand Bardhan pursued his education at Delhi University, earning a B.Sc. (Honours) in Physics and a Master’s degree in Computer Applications with distinction. He later added an international dimension to his education with a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration from École Nationale d’Administration (ENA), Paris — one of France’s premier institutions for public policy and governance. This became the solid foundation for his deep interest in public services.

Early Career and District Administration

Shri Anand Bardhan began his administrative journey at the grassroots level — an essential training ground for every IAS officer. Starting as Joint Magistrate in Etawah in 1993, he went on to serve in several sub-divisional and district roles across Uttar Pradesh , including Mainpuri, Roorkee, and Banda. His early years were defined by field-level governance, dealing directly with public administration, law and order, and rural development challenges.

He later took charge as District Magistrate and Collector in multiple districts — Rampur, Etawah, Pauri Garhwal, Nainital, and Haridwar. These postings gave him first-hand experience in coordinating development schemes, disaster management, and infrastructure projects. His tenure as District Magistrate, Haridwar (2007–2008) , in particular, marked a phase of strong administrative coordination ahead of the 2010 Maha Kumbh Mela, one of India’s largest religious congregations .

Leadership in Urban and Infrastructure Development

Shri Anand Bardhan’s transition from field administration to higher-level policymaking began with his assignments in the state secretariat, where he took on responsibilities in departments such as Tourism, Industries, and Public Works. As Additional Secretary and later Infrastructure Development Commissioner, he focused on integrating sustainable practices into Uttarakhand’s rapid urbanization framework.

As Vice Chairman of the Haridwar Development Authority, he worked on strengthening urban infrastructure and improving civic governance. His subsequent postings in the Urban Development and Housing Departments reflect his steady involvement in shaping the state’s policy direction in these sectors.

Central Deputation: Experience Beyond Borders

Between 2010 and 2015, Shri Anand Bardhan served on central deputation with the Government of India, marking a pivotal chapter in his career. He was first posted as Director in the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, New Delhi, and later as Counsellor at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi. This international assignment provided him with valuable exposure to India’s external engagement with its diaspora, cross-border labour issues, and the management of bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

This phase not only broadened his administrative horizon but also enhanced his diplomatic and intergovernmental coordination skills — attributes that would later serve him well in handling complex state-level responsibilities.

Return to Uttarakhand: Steering Policy and Governance

Upon returning from central deputation, Shri Anand Bardhan re-entered the Uttarakhand bureaucracy in senior leadership roles that spanned multiple departments. As Principal Secretary and later Additional Chief Secretary, he handled portfolios including Home, Finance, Personnel, Vigilance, Environment, and Rural Development.

His tenure as Additional Chief Secretary (Home) was marked by efforts to modernize policing infrastructure and streamline administrative coordination across law enforcement agencies. In Finance, Bardhan played a central role in fiscal planning and expenditure management during a period of evolving economic priorities for the state.

As head of the Environment and Forest Department, he oversaw initiatives related to forest conservation, climate resilience, and pollution control. Under his watch, the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board strengthened its monitoring mechanisms and focused on sustainable industrial compliance.

Shri Anand Bardhan also held charge of Watershed Development and Rural Development, two critical departments in a state where livelihood security and natural resource management are deeply interlinked. His approach emphasized the integration of ecological sustainability with economic empowerment, particularly in rural and hilly regions.

Education, Training, and Administrative Philosophy

Bardhan’s administrative growth has been reinforced by structured professional training. He attended the Mid-Career Training Programme (MCTP) Phase IV in 2011 and Phase V in 2023 — programs designed to sharpen leadership skills and strategic governance insight among senior IAS officers. His foreign training in France in 2004 underlined his long-standing interest in comparative models of governance and institutional reform.

Colleagues often describe him as a firm yet pragmatic administrator — one who values institutional processes as much as outcome-oriented performance. His scientific background, combined with training in public administration, lends him an analytical approach to problem-solving, balancing innovation with discipline in execution.

Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand: Continuity and Vision

As the 19th Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand, Anand Bardhan’s leadership symbolizes both continuity and evolution within the state’s administrative framework. Having served across nearly every major department in the state government, his elevation represents the culmination of a career deeply rooted in Uttarakhand’s governance landscape.

At the helm, he is expected to focus on enhancing administrative efficiency, accelerating infrastructure projects, and deepening fiscal discipline, while maintaining Uttarakhand’s delicate balance between development and environmental preservation. His long engagement with watershed management and forest governance positions him well to guide policy on sustainable growth in an ecologically sensitive Himalayan state.

A Career of Steady Ascent

From his early days as a field officer in Uttar Pradesh to his current role as the state’s top bureaucrat, Anand Bardhan’s career reflects a steady ascent built on administrative acumen, adaptability, and cross-sectoral experience. His journey through multiple portfolios — from finance to foreign affairs, from environment to education — offers a rare example of continuity, depth, and institutional understanding in governance.

As Uttarakhand charts its next phase of development, Bardhan’s leadership at the apex of the bureaucracy brings both experience and balance — qualities indispensable to steering a young, ecologically fragile, and aspirational hill state toward sustainable progress.

IAS Radha Raturi, Uttarakhand’s first woman Chief Secretary is an inspiration to young girls

Anuj Gaur — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 07:54:06 +0000

Ms. Radha Raturi, a distinguished IAS officer of the 1988 Uttarakhand cadre, has had an extensive and multifaceted career in public administration, spanning more than three decades. Her exemplary service reflects her vast experience in managing key portfolios across the government, contributing significantly to state and national-level governance. Starting her journey as a direct recruit in the Indian Administrative Service, she quickly ascended through the ranks, leveraging her academic background and her aptitude for leadership.

Born in Madhya Pradesh and fluent in Hindi, Bengali, and English, Ms. Raturi holds a postgraduate degree in Personnel Management, along with a diploma in Journalism and a graduate degree in History, all of which she completed with first-division honors. This strong academic foundation undoubtedly played a role in her approach to administrative and personnel management throughout her career.

Her trajectory in public service is marked by key appointments at both the district and state levels, handling diverse portfolios that range from finance to women and child development, education, and general administration. In her earlier career, she served in crucial roles such as District Magistrate of Dehradun and Tehri Garhwal, where she managed land revenue and district administration. This period allowed her to hone her skills in governance at the grassroots level, dealing with complex administrative challenges.

Ms. Radha Raturi extensive experience with finance is particularly noteworthy, having held multiple key positions in the Department of Finance in Uttarakhand. She served as Principal Secretary in the Department of Finance and also took on the role of Secretary of Excise, handling vital financial and administrative matters over several tenures. Her involvement in finance reflects her capability in managing budgets, overseeing expenditure, and contributing to the economic framework of the state.

A significant part of her career is her involvement in women and child development, where she has worked to implement progressive policies in the realm of public welfare. Her tenure as Additional Chief Secretary for the Child Development & Women Empowerment Department in Uttarakhand highlights her commitment to social justice and empowerment. Her work in this field has contributed to the upliftment of women and children in the state, focusing on development programs aimed at enhancing their well-being.

Ms. Radha Raturi career also demonstrates her capability in handling high-pressure roles, particularly in public administration and governance. She has served in various critical capacities such as Chief Secretary to the Government of Uttarakhand, Principal Secretary, and Additional Chief Secretary in multiple departments, including General Administration and Personnel Vigilance. These roles are indicative of her vast experience in managing state-level administrative affairs and policy formulation, particularly in human resource development and public administration.

One of her more public-facing roles was her long-term association with election management. As the Chief Electoral Officer and Secretary for Elections in Uttarakhand, Ms. Raturi played a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth conduct of elections in the state, demonstrating her ability to manage large-scale operations with precision and fairness. Her efforts were recognized at the national level when she received the National Award for Excellence to States in 2017 from the Election Commission of India, reflecting her dedication to upholding the democratic process.

Throughout her career, Ms. Radha Raturi has been at the forefront of administrative reforms and public policy. Her leadership roles in secretariats, especially in General Administration and Personnel departments, allowed her to contribute to policy-making processes and implement administrative reforms. Her expertise in personnel management is a significant aspect of her work, having held the post of Principal Secretary in the Personnel Department and overseeing human resource management at a high level.

Ms. Radha Raturi journey is marked by her adaptability and the breadth of her experience, which spans finance, human resource development, public policy, and social welfare. As she moves towards the culmination of her career, with her retirement slated for September 2024, her legacy as a stalwart of public administration in Uttarakhand remains impactful. Her contributions across various domains of governance have left an indelible mark on the state’s administrative landscape, particularly in areas concerning financial governance, social welfare, and administrative reforms.

Her extensive experience, coupled with her academic background, has enabled her to contribute meaningfully to the welfare and development of the state of Uttarakhand and beyond. Her distinguished career reflects her unwavering commitment to public service and governance, making her a respected figure in Indian bureaucracy. Her journey and achievements make her a true inspiration to the young girls not only in Uttarakhand but the whole country.

“Beauty Queen Taskeen Khan Left Modeling, Defied the Odds to Crack UPSC After 3 Failures”

Anuj Gaur — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 08:04:59 +0000

Taskeen Khan candidly acknowledges her early struggles with Mathematics, a subject that troubled her until class 8. However, she defied expectations, scoring over 90 percent in her Class 10 and 12 board exams in the science stream.