Rachna Shah is a 1991-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Kerala cadre, currently serving as Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India. She assumed charge on 26 December 2024.
Education & Background
Originally from Uttar Pradesh, Rachna Shah holds a Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours in Economics and a postgraduate degree in Business Economics, both from Delhi University.
Career and Appointments
Rachna Shah has held numerous senior-level assignments in both state and central governments.
- She has served as Joint Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Prior to her current appointment, she was Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, where she played a key role in policy formulation and sectoral development.
- On 26 December 2024, she was appointed as Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training, assuming leadership of India’s central personnel management and administrative reforms body.
- In May 2025, she was entrusted with additional charge of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and the Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) for a brief interim period.
Key Initiatives or Focus Areas
As Personnel Secretary, Rachna Shah is responsible for the oversight and coordination of civil services training, cadre management, recruitment policies, administrative reforms, and personnel governance across the central government. Her leadership also supports grievance redressal systems and institutional reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency.
During her temporary charge of DARPG and DoPPW, she ensured administrative continuity and supported the digital transformation efforts of these departments.
Summary
Rachna Shah is a highly experienced civil servant with a diverse administrative background spanning economic policy, trade, textiles, and institutional reform. As Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training, she plays a pivotal role in managing human resource policies for the Government of India and leading efforts to modernize public administration. Her interim leadership of other key departments further reflects her capability in handling multifaceted governance challenges.