Naresh Pal Gangwar Appointed Higher Education Secretary

Naresh Pal Gangwar, a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Rajasthan cadre, was appointed Secretary of the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education on 23 July 2026. He replaced Vineet Joshi, who was transferred as Secretary in the Department of Panchayati Raj. The appointment formed part of a 13-secretary-level reshuffle approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

Department of Higher Education

The Department of Higher Education functions under the Ministry of Education and deals with university education, technical education, and policy matters related to higher education in India. The department also coordinates with central universities, institutions of national importance, and regulatory bodies connected with tertiary education.

Indian Administrative Service and Cadre System

The Indian Administrative Service is one of the three All India Services under Article 312 of the Constitution of India. IAS officers are allotted state cadres, and cadre officers can be posted to the Union Government on central deputation for senior administrative assignments.

Important Facts for Exams

• Naresh Pal Gangwar belongs to the 1994 batch of the Indian Administrative Service.
• He is an officer of the Rajasthan cadre.
• He previously served as Secretary in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
• His educational qualifications include BTech in Electronics and Communication, MTech from IIT Delhi, and MA in Economics from the University of Rajasthan.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approves senior appointments and transfers at the level of Secretary to the Government of India. The Department of Higher Education is one of the two departments under the Ministry of Education, the other being the Department of School Education and Literacy.