Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil is a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre. She currently serves as Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. She assumed charge in June 2025.
Education & Background
Dr. Govil holds a master’s degree in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics and another in Public Policy Analysis from Princeton University, USA. She also earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the City University of New York Graduate Center. Her academic background supports her long-standing focus on governance, social policy, and public service.
Career and Appointments
State-Level Roles
In the Madhya Pradesh state government, Dr. Govil served as Principal Secretary in the Department of Tribal Welfare and Scheduled Castes Welfare, where she oversaw development initiatives and policy frameworks aimed at marginalized communities.
Central Government Roles
She was empanelled for Secretary-level positions in the Government of India and served as Director General of Hydrocarbons in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. In June 2025, she was appointed Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs. That same month, she also held additional charge as Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment for a brief period.
Key Initiatives or Focus Areas
As Secretary of Youth Affairs, Dr. Govil is responsible for key youth engagement and development programmes including the National Service Scheme (NSS) and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS). Her priorities include:
- Expanding volunteer networks and community engagement
- Aligning youth initiatives with national development goals
- Enhancing skill development, leadership, and civic participation among youth
- Strengthening institutional coordination across youth-focused schemes
Summary
Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil is a distinguished civil servant with strong academic credentials and decades of experience in public administration. As Secretary of the Department of Youth Affairs, she leads national strategies for empowering India’s youth population, with a focus on inclusive development, participation, and skills enhancement.