Third alumnus of Thapar College appointed as Chief Secretary of a state
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ June 29,2024
Odisha government has appointed senior IAS officer Manoj Ahuja as the chief secretary of Odisha. He will take charge from the incumbent CS Pradeep Kumar Jena on June 30. He has also been appointed as secretary of the general administration department.
Ahuja is the third alumni of Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala who has been appointed on the coveted post of chief secretary. Another Thapar alumnus who are working as chief secretary are Anurag Verma, IAS of 1993 batch who is already serving as chief secretary, Punjab and Donald Phillips Wahlang , IAS of 1993 batch is also a alumni of Thapar institute who is presently Chief Secretary of Meghalaya.
The 1990-batch Odisha-cadre officer Ahuja, who was serving as the Union agriculture and farmers’ welfare secretary, had recently returned to the state following a requisition by the state government.
Ahuja’s remained on central deputation since 2017. Before that, Ahuja had served as secretary of key departments like cooperation, steel and mines, sports and youth affairs and food supplies and consumer welfare and commissioner, commercial tax, Odisha government
His repatriation from the Centre and appointment as chief secretary assumes significance with most of the ministers in the new BJP government lacking experience of handling portfolios.
Ahuja’s role will not just be crucial in terms of successful implementation of BJP’s election promises but he will also play a key role in helping pick senior IAS officers in various department and district collectors in the Mohan Majhi government.
Third alumnus of Thapar College appointed as Chief Secretary of a state. Manoj Ahuja holds a B.E. (Mechanical) degree from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, an MBA from Punjab University, Chandigarh (of 1986-88) and a Master’s in Public Administration (International Development) from Harvard University, USA.
About Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (TIET)
The Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (TIET) is one of India’s oldest and finest educational institutions, which provides a steady source of highly skilled talent to the nation as well as overseas. Founded in 1956 with a campus spread across sprawling 250 acres, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, located in Patiala, has been a pioneer in engineering education, research and innovation.
Another Thapar, PU alumnus, Punjabi IAS tipped to become chief secretary of a major state