Service: Indian Legal Service (ILS)
Current Position: Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice
Date of Appointment: March 2025
Notable Distinction: First woman to be appointed as Secretary, Legal Affairs
🏛️ Administrative Career
Dr. Anju Rathi Rana is a senior officer of the Indian Legal Service with a distinguished career in public legal service. She began her legal career as a public prosecutor with the Government of Delhi, where she served for 18 years. Her expertise and commitment to the legal profession led to her joining the Ministry of Law & Justice as Joint Secretary in 2017.
She was later promoted to Additional Secretary in the Department of Legal Affairs and, in March 2025, was appointed as the Secretary, becoming the first woman to hold this prestigious position.
📌 Role and Responsibilities
As Secretary (Legal Affairs), Dr. Rana is the Government of India’s chief legal advisor. Her key responsibilities include:
- Advising all Ministries and Departments on legal matters
- Drafting and vetting legislation, rules, regulations, and treaties
- Managing government litigation across courts and tribunals
- Coordinating legal policy development and international legal cooperation
- Overseeing commercial laws, arbitration policy, and legal reforms
📝 Summary
Dr. Anju Rathi Rana’s appointment marks a significant milestone in the history of India’s legal administration. With decades of experience in legal prosecution and policymaking, she brings deep expertise and a reform-oriented approach to the Department of Legal Affairs. Her leadership is expected to strengthen legal governance, enhance transparency, and support modernization of legislative processes in India.