New Delhi, August 17, 2026: Senior IAS officer Anurag Jain has formally taken charge as the Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog, bringing a full-time administrative head back to the Centre’s premier public policy institution.
NITI Aayog welcomed Jain on Monday, August 17, highlighting his nearly four decades of experience in public administration and policymaking. The institution’s official leadership page now lists him as its Chief Executive Officer.
Jain is a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre. Before joining NITI Aayog, he served as the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh. At the Centre, he has headed the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, or DPIIT.
Anurag Jain’s tenure as NITI Aayog CEO
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Jain’s appointment on July 22, 2026.
According to the appointment order, Jain’s tenure begins from the date he assumes charge and will continue through his approved extension in service and thereafter for an overall period of two years, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The order also states that the terms and conditions of his appointment will remain the same as those applicable to his predecessor.
The Department of Personnel and Training’s Executive Officers Division record lists his appointment to NITI Aayog with effect from July 22, 2026.
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Who did Anurag Jain replace?
Jain succeeds B.V.R. Subrahmanyam as the full-time CEO of NITI Aayog. Subrahmanyam joined the institution on February 25, 2023, and completed his three-year tenure in February 2026.
Following the conclusion of Subrahmanyam’s term, Nidhi Chhibber, Director General of NITI Aayog’s Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office, was given additional charge as CEO. Jain’s assumption of office ends that interim leadership arrangement.
The change comes amid a wider leadership transition at NITI Aayog. Economist and former Chief Economic Adviser Ashok Kumar Lahiri is currently serving as the institution’s Vice Chairperson, according to the official NITI Aayog directory.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains the Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
Who is Anurag Jain?
Anurag Jain has served in several senior positions across the Union government and Madhya Pradesh administration.
He became the 35th Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh in October 2024. His tenure was subsequently extended until August 31, 2026, but he moved to NITI Aayog after receiving the new central assignment.
Following his appointment, the Madhya Pradesh government gave senior IAS officer Ashok Barnwal charge as the state’s Chief Secretary, ensuring administrative continuity.
Anurag Jain’s major previous assignments include:
- Chief Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh
- Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
- Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
- Senior assignments connected with economic policy, investment promotion, infrastructure and public administration
His tenure at DPIIT coincided with work relating to investment facilitation, intellectual property reforms, startups, logistics and digital commerce. In December 2022, Jain inaugurated the ONDC office and described the Open Network for Digital Commerce as an initiative capable of expanding e-commerce opportunities for small businesses and consumers, according to a Press Information Bureau release.
He was also involved in advancing the PM GatiShakti approach to integrated and time-bound infrastructure planning. His subsequent experience as Road Transport and Highways Secretary added direct exposure to the implementation of large national infrastructure programmes.
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What does the NITI Aayog CEO do?
The CEO provides executive and administrative leadership to NITI Aayog and coordinates its different policy divisions, missions and programmes.
The position involves translating policy priorities into actionable strategies, coordinating with Union ministries and state governments, monitoring development programmes and supporting the institution’s Governing Council and senior leadership.
The CEO also chairs NITI Aayog’s Advisers’ Group meetings, which bring together different subject divisions and units for coordination and review.
This role is different from that of the Vice Chairperson. While the Vice Chairperson provides high-level policy and economic leadership, the CEO is closely involved in institutional management, inter-governmental coordination and the implementation of NITI Aayog’s strategic work.
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Major priorities awaiting the new CEO
Anurag Jain assumes office while NITI Aayog is working on several important national priorities.
These include the Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap, manufacturing competitiveness, employment and skills, sustainable development, energy transition, artificial intelligence and other frontier technologies.
The State Support Mission is assisting states and Union Territories in preparing socioeconomic development roadmaps aligned with their strengths and the national vision for 2047.
NITI Aayog is also implementing the Aspirational Districts Programme across 112 underdeveloped districts. The Aspirational Blocks Programme extends the data-driven governance model to 500 blocks across 329 districts.
Another growing area is the NITI Frontier Tech Hub, which focuses on India’s preparedness for technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and biotechnology. The hub examines their implications for inclusive growth, supply-chain resilience and national security.
Update note: This report was updated on August 17, 2026, after NITI Aayog formally welcomed Anurag Jain as its new Chief Executive Officer.
