Service: Indian Administrative Service (IAS), 1991 batch, Karnataka cadre
Current Position: Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment (since June 2025)
🏛️ Administrative Career
Ms. Vandana Gurnani is a senior IAS officer with a distinguished career in public administration, particularly in the health and coordination sectors at the central level. Prior to her appointment as Secretary in the Ministry of Labour & Employment, she served as Secretary (Coordination) in the Cabinet Secretariat, where she was responsible for streamlining inter-ministerial processes and policy implementation.
Throughout her career, she has held various leadership roles both in the Government of India and in her home cadre, contributing to health policy, rural development, and administrative reforms.
📌 Role as Labour Secretary
As Secretary of the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Ms. Gurnani is tasked with overseeing key national functions related to labour welfare, employment generation, and workforce formalization. Her responsibilities include:
- Implementing central labour laws and workplace safety standards
- Promoting employment-linked incentive programs and skilling initiatives
- Strengthening digital platforms for job matching and social security
- Facilitating industry engagement for inclusive and sustainable job creation
🚀 Key Initiatives & Focus Areas
- Advocated for greater participation of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in employment-linked incentive schemes aimed at boosting formal job creation in emerging sectors
- Promoted reforms in labour codes with a view to balancing workers’ rights and economic growth
- Supported digital transformation of employment services to improve accessibility and transparency
- Emphasized upskilling and reskilling programs to align with the evolving demands of India’s job market
📝 Summary
Ms. Vandana Gurnani’s appointment as Secretary of the Ministry of Labour & Employment reflects her strong administrative track record and strategic vision. Under her leadership, the ministry is expected to focus on expanding formal employment, ensuring worker welfare, and leveraging partnerships to build a future-ready workforce.