New Delhi: Senior IAS officer Deepti Gaur Mukerjee has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. Her appointment is part of a major bureaucratic reshuffle approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
Mukerjee is a 1993-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre. Before taking up her new assignment, she was serving as Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, a position she assumed in August 2024.
Who Is Deepti Gaur Mukerjee?
Deepti Gaur Mukerjee has held several key administrative positions during her career across different sectors.
Before joining the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, she served as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Authority (NHA). Her administrative experience also includes significant responsibilities in the education sector during her tenure in Madhya Pradesh.
She held senior positions in the School Education Department and State Education Mission of Madhya Pradesh, gaining experience in implementing education programmes and policies.
A 2017 Ministry of Education document also records her involvement in discussions concerning the implementation of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in Madhya Pradesh. Initiatives discussed included Mil Banche and Kahani Utsav, aimed at encouraging reading habits and improving students’ learning experiences.
Mukerjee Takes Charge Amid Key Higher Education Challenges
Mukerjee’s appointment comes at a significant time for India’s higher education sector, which continues to address several issues related to entrance examinations, examination systems and education reforms.
Her appointment also follows the Centre’s earlier decision to appoint Naresh Pal Gangwar as Higher Education Secretary, a move that was subsequently put in abeyance, according to reports.
With experience spanning education, healthcare, corporate affairs and state administration, Mukerjee brings a diverse administrative background to the Department of Higher Education.
Role Under NEP 2020
As Higher Education Secretary, Mukerjee will be involved in overseeing the implementation of key government programmes and policies concerning India’s higher education system.
Her tenure will include responsibilities linked to the continued implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, along with efforts to strengthen higher education institutions, academic reforms and related government initiatives.
