Alka Tiwari, a distinguished IAS officer of the 1988 batch, has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Jharkhand, as announced by the Personnel Department. Known for her efficiency and integrity, Tiwari will lead the state administration until her retirement on September 30, 2025.

The decision to appoint Tiwari comes after the Election Commission denied an extension for L Khiangte, who retired on October 31 after serving as Chief Secretary for nearly 11 months. Despite the state government’s proposal for a three-month extension, no clearance was received. Tiwari’s name was widely discussed in bureaucratic circles, and her selection was finalized upon the vacancy. She had recently returned from central deputation and was serving as a Member of the Board of Revenue in Jharkhand.

In Jharkhand, Tiwari is one of only two active Chief Secretary-rank officers, alongside Avinash Kumar, while other senior officers, Nidhi Khare and Shailesh Kumar Singh, are on deputation to the central government.

Tiwari’s impressive academic and professional background underscores her readiness for the role. A postgraduate in Psychology from Meerut University, she earned the Governor’s Gold Medal as the university’s top graduate. She also holds an M.Sc. in Civil and Structural Engineering from the University of Manchester, where she topped her class and received a gold medal in “Management & Implementation of Development Projects.” Furthering her expertise, Tiwari pursued studies at Harvard and Duke Universities, focusing on financial inclusion and public fiscal management.

Her career spans a variety of critical roles in both Jharkhand and central government agencies. She served as the District Collector in Gumla and Lohardaga and held secretary positions in the departments of Commercial Taxes and Forest & Environment. At the national level, Tiwari served as an advisor to Niti Aayog, overseeing financial resources, education, and tourism sectors, and contributed to strategic documents on India’s higher education reform.

During her tenure as the CMD of FAGMIL, Tiwari transformed the ailing gypsum trade into a profitable enterprise. Her diplomatic engagements with Qatar, Iran, and Russia ensured urea availability while safeguarding India’s financial interests. In her role with the Indo-Russian Intergovernmental Commission, she signed the protocol on “Modernization and Industrial Co-operation,” further strengthening bilateral relations.