Ranjana Chopra gets Additional Charge as WCD Secretary

By: WE Staff | Monday, 27 April 2026

• Ranjana Chopra appointed Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development
• Currently serves as Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs; 1994-batch IAS officer
• Brings extensive experience from senior roles in Union ministries and the Odisha government

Ranjana Chopra, an IAS officer from the Odisha cadre and member of the 1994 batch, has been appointed as the Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Development by the Government of India. She is currently the Secretary of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

This assignment is for the period of the leave taken by Anil Malik, IAS, who is the current Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The appointment is effective immediately and runs through May 2, 2026.

This temporary assignment will help to ensure that the Ministry of Women and Child Development continues to be led and administratively managed effectively during Anil Malik’s absence from the Ministry.

Ranjana, a member of the 1994 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) from Odisha, currently serves as the Secretary of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. She assumed charge on November 1, 2025, after multiple senior-level appointments at both the State of Odisha and the Union Government.

Chopra, who was born on August 21, 1971, in Punjab, holds a Master’s degree in Public Health Management and a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB). Her experience in these fields has greatly influenced her career in the social sector and governance-related areas.

Prior to assuming the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ranjana held both Special Secretary & Financial Administrator positions within the Ministry of Culture. In these 2 roles, Ranjana was responsible for all aspects of financial control and administrative responsibilities associated with all cultural institutions and programs.

During this time she also held an additional title of Financial Administrator for the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Law & Justice; this was due to her extensive expertise related to the financials and administrative roles associated with various ministries in the Government of India.

Ranjana’s experience prior to joining the Ministry of Tribal Affairs was gained through various positions within the Government of Odisha where she occupied numerous senior posts such as Principal Secretary, for the following organizations/departments: Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Department, as well as serving as the Commissioner & Secretary for both the Department of Cooperation and School & Mass Education. In each of these capacities, she was involved in both the implementation of policies/programs and providing oversight for their administration at the state level.

Ranjana was empanelled for Secretary-level positions in the Government of India in 2025 and subsequently moved to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, first as Officer on Special Duty to facilitate the transition before formally assuming the top administrative role in the ministry. Her current responsibilities include overseeing policies and programmes related to the welfare, development, and rights of tribal communities across the country.