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Who Is Naresh Pal Gangwar? IAS Officer Appointed Higher Education Secretary

Samira Vishwas | July 30, 2026 10:24 AM CST

The Centre has appointed senior IAS officer Naresh Pal Gangwar as the new Secretary of the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. The appointment comes at a time when Delhi continues to witness protests led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Naresh Pal Gangwar.

Who is Naresh Pal Gangwar?

Naresh Pal Gangwar is a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Rajasthan cadre. Before taking charge of the Higher Education Department, he served as Secretary in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

He will succeed Vineet Joshi, a 1992-batch IAS officer, who has been transferred as Secretary of the Department of Panchayati Raj under the latest reshuffle approved by the Centre.

Educational qualifications of Naresh Pal Gangwar

Naresh Pal Gangwar has a strong academic background in engineering and economics. He earned a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) in Electronics and Communications Engineering from IIT Roorkee.

He later completed a Master’s degree in Communication and Radar Engineering from IIT Delhi. In addition, he holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Rajasthan, reflecting his expertise in both technical and administrative fields.

Career highlights

During his distinguished bureaucratic career, Naresh Pal Gangwar has held several important positions in both the central and Rajasthan governments.

He previously served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, where he oversaw key divisions dealing with pollution control and hazardous substances management. He also worked as the Principal Secretary in the Government of Rajasthan, handling major administrative responsibilities.

His experience across environmental governance, public administration, and policy implementation is expected to strengthen the functioning of the Higher Education Department.

The appointment comes amid increased attention on India’s education system, with ongoing discussions around examination reforms and governance in higher education.

FAQs

Q1 Who is Naresh Pal Gangwar?

A. Naresh Pal Gangwar is a 1994-batch Rajasthan cadre IAS officer who has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Higher Education.

Q2. What is Naresh Pal Gangwar’s educational qualification?

A. Naresh Pal Gangwar holds a B.Tech from IIT Roorkee, a Master’s in Communication and Radar Engineering from IIT Delhi, and a Master’s in Economics from the University of Rajasthan.

Q3. Which officer did Naresh Pal Gangwar replace?

A. He replaced Vineet Joshi, who has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Panchayati Raj.

Q4. What posts has Naresh Pal Gangwar held earlier?

A. He has served as Secretary of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Principal Secretary in the Government of Rajasthan.