Anurag Jain Appointed as New NITI Aayog CEO; Senior IAS Officer to Lead India's Top Policy Think Tank

The Central Government has appointed senior IAS officer Anurag Jain as the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog, entrusting the experienced bureaucrat with leading the country's premier public policy institution for the next two years. His appointment has been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), marking a significant leadership transition at a time when India is pursuing major economic reforms and long-term development goals.

A 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, Jain brings over three decades of administrative experience across both state and central governments. He is widely recognized for his work in industrial policy, infrastructure development, investment promotion, and governance reforms.

Before taking over the new role, Jain served as the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, where he oversaw the state's administrative machinery and coordinated key development initiatives. Earlier, he held the position of Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), playing an important role in shaping policies aimed at improving the ease of doing business, boosting manufacturing, and attracting domestic and foreign investment.

His extensive experience in public administration is expected to strengthen NITI Aayog's role in driving policy coordination between the Centre and states while supporting the government's long-term economic vision. NITI Aayog, established in 2015 to replace the Planning Commission, functions as the Government of India's apex policy think tank. It works closely with ministries, state governments, and experts to formulate development strategies, recommend reforms, encourage innovation, and monitor the implementation of key national initiatives.

As CEO, Anurag Jain will be responsible for overseeing the institution's day-to-day operations, coordinating policy implementation across government departments, and supporting initiatives related to economic growth, digital transformation, sustainable development, infrastructure, and innovation. His role will also involve strengthening cooperative federalism by facilitating closer collaboration between the Centre and state governments.

Jain's appointment comes at a crucial juncture as India accelerates efforts to achieve its long-term development targets, expand manufacturing under initiatives such as Make in India, improve infrastructure, and enhance global competitiveness. His experience in balancing policy formulation with practical execution is expected to help translate ambitious government programmes into measurable outcomes.

Policy observers believe Jain's background in investment promotion, industrial development, and governance reforms positions him well to lead NITI Aayog through the next phase of India's growth journey. His administrative expertise is also expected to support the government's broader objective of transforming India into a developed economy by 2047. With his appointment, the government has placed an experienced administrator at the helm of one of the country's most influential policy institutions, reinforcing its focus on effective governance and evidence-based policymaking.