Snehlata Shrivastava

Snehlata Shrivastava is a distinguished Indian civil servant renowned for being the first woman to serve as Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament. Her career in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) spans over three decades, covering significant positions in both state and central governments. She is recognised for her administrative acumen, commitment to institutional governance, and role in promoting women’s leadership in public service.

Early Life and Education

Born on 18 September 1957 in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Snehlata Shrivastava pursued higher education in geography and public administration. She completed a Master of Arts in Geography and an MPhil in Regional Planning and Economic Growth from Bhopal University, now known as Barkatullah University. Her educational background in planning and economics laid a strong foundation for her future administrative and policy roles.

Career in the Indian Administrative Service

Snehlata Shrivastava joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in the 1982 batch, belonging to the Madhya Pradesh cadre. Her early assignments included working as Under Secretary and Additional Collector for Bhopal Gas Relief and Rehabilitation between 1985 and 1988, a crucial period following the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, where she contributed to relief and rehabilitation efforts.
She later served as District Collector and District Magistrate of Mandsaur from 1988 to 1989, overseeing administrative, developmental, and law and order functions. In the Madhya Pradesh state administration, she held several significant portfolios as Deputy Secretary in the Departments of Home, Energy, Commerce and Industry, and Finance between 1989 and 1998.
She was subsequently appointed Executive Director of the Madhya Pradesh Mining Corporation from 1998 to 2000, where she supervised the state’s mineral development and mining operations.
At the national level, Snehlata Shrivastava held a series of key assignments, including:

• Chief Vigilance Officer at Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) from 2005 to 2007.
• Secretary, Department of Justice, in the Ministry of Law and Justice, where she dealt with judicial administration and legal reforms.
• Special and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Financial Services), overseeing banking, insurance, and pension policies.

Her career reflects a diverse exposure to governance, from financial administration and public policy to institutional reform and infrastructure management.

Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha

Snehlata Shrivastava was appointed Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha on 1 December 2017, a post she held until 30 November 2020. Her appointment was historic, as she became the first woman in India’s history to occupy this position.
As Secretary-General, she held a rank equivalent to the Cabinet Secretary, the highest administrative post in the Government of India. Her role involved managing the Lok Sabha Secretariat, advising the Speaker of the Lok Sabha on parliamentary rules and procedures, and ensuring the smooth functioning of the parliamentary system.
Her tenure was marked by administrative efficiency, procedural discipline, and a focus on modernising parliamentary operations through digitisation and process reform. She played a pivotal role in improving the documentation, management, and transparency of parliamentary activities.

Post-Retirement Roles and Contributions

Following her retirement from the Lok Sabha, Snehlata Shrivastava continued her involvement in governance and public administration through advisory and directorial roles. She has served as:

• Public Interest Director on the Board of the India International Clearing Corporation (ICC) in Gandhinagar.
• Director on the Board of the Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd. (GPCL).
• Advisory Board Member in academic institutions, contributing to programmes in governance, law, and public policy.

Her post-retirement work demonstrates her continued dedication to promoting effective governance, transparency, and administrative reform.

Significance and Achievements

Snehlata Shrivastava’s career holds notable significance in Indian public administration:

• She broke a gender barrier by becoming the first woman Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha, symbolising greater inclusion of women in senior bureaucratic positions.
• Her vast experience across multiple departments—ranging from finance to justice and industry—provided her with a multidimensional understanding of governance.
• Her leadership style emphasised institutional integrity, procedural precision, and administrative innovation.
• She contributed to parliamentary modernisation, especially in streamlining secretariat functions and enhancing coordination between government and legislature.

Her professional journey illustrates the ability of civil servants to act as custodians of democratic processes and maintain administrative balance within the constitutional framework.

Legacy and Impact

Snehlata Shrivastava’s legacy lies in her exemplary service to public administration and her efforts to uphold the values of transparency and accountability. As Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha, she strengthened institutional governance at one of the highest legislative levels in India.
Her career also stands as an inspiration for women in public service, highlighting the growing opportunities and recognition for female leadership in governance and policymaking.