Anurag Jain appointed next NITI Aayog CEO. Who is he?

The Centre has appointed senior IAS officer Anurag Jain as the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog, India's premier public policy think tank. The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), with Jain set to serve a two-year term from the date he assumes charge.

Jain succeeds the previous leadership at NITI Aayog at a time when the institution is steering key policy initiatives aimed at accelerating economic growth, infrastructure development and the government's 'Viksit Bharat' vision.

Who is Anurag Jain?

Anurag Jain is a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre. He is currently serving as the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh and brings nearly four decades of experience in governance and public administration.

Over the course of his career, Jain has served in several high-profile roles in both the Centre and the state government, earning a reputation for handling complex infrastructure and industrial policy assignments.

Key positions held

Before becoming Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary, Jain served as:

• Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

• Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

• Senior administrative positions in the Government of Madhya Pradesh, overseeing infrastructure, finance, urban development and industrial policy.

His work has focused on improving logistics, industrial growth, ease of doing business and infrastructure execution.

What will he do as NITI Aayog CEO?

As CEO of NITI Aayog, Jain will oversee the day-to-day functioning of the government's top policy think tank and work closely with the Centre and states on:

• Promoting cooperative and competitive federalism.

• Supporting evidence-based policymaking.

• Driving reforms in infrastructure, manufacturing and innovation.

• Coordinating the implementation of key national development programmes.

The CEO also plays a crucial role in facilitating collaboration between ministries, state governments and experts to translate policy into implementation.

Why the appointment matters

Jain's appointment comes as India pushes ahead with ambitious goals in manufacturing, infrastructure, digital governance and long-term economic planning.

Given his experience in industrial policy, logistics and public administration, his leadership is expected to strengthen NITI Aayog's role in shaping reforms and supporting the government's long-term development agenda.