Naresh Pal Gangwar has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education

Naresh Pal Gangwar has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education

¨     Naresh Pal Gangwar, 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Rajasthan cadre, was appointed Secretary, Department of Higher Education on 23 July 2026.

¨     He replaced Vineet Joshi, who was transferred as Secretary, Department of Panchayati Raj.

¨     The appointment was part of a 13-secretary-level bureaucratic reshuffle approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

¨     The Department of Higher Education functions under the Ministry of Education.

¨     It is responsible for formulating and implementing policies related to higher education, university education, and technical education.

¨     The department coordinates with Central Universities, Institutions of National Importance (INIs), and higher education regulatory bodies.

¨     It works to improve the quality, accessibility, and governance of higher education in India.

¨     The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is one of the three All India Services constituted under Article 312 of the Constitution of India.

¨     IAS officers are allotted State Cadres or Joint Cadres after selection.

¨     They serve in both State Governments and the Union Government.

¨     Senior IAS officers can be appointed to the Central Government on deputation for key administrative positions.

¨     The cadre system ensures administrative coordination between the Union and the States.