Senior IAS officer Anurag Jain takes charge as NITI Aayog CEO

The Centre has appointed senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Anurag Jain as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog, placing an experienced civil servant at the helm of the government's policy think tank.

The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), according to an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Wednesday.

The order stated that Jain, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, will assume office from the date he takes charge. He will serve until his approved extension in service and thereafter for an overall period of two years or until further orders, whichever is earlier, under the same terms and conditions as his predecessor.

Veteran bureaucrat takes over key policy role

Jain brings decades of administrative experience to the role, having served in several senior positions at both the Central Government and the Government of Madhya Pradesh during his civil service career.

His appointment places him at the operational helm of NITI Aayog, the government's apex public policy institution responsible for driving strategic policy initiatives, fostering cooperative federalism and supporting long-term economic and social development.

Key highlights of the appointment include:

• Anurag Jain appointed as Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog.
• Appointment approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
• Official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training.
• Jain is a 1989-batch IAS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre.
• Tenure will begin from the date he assumes charge and continue for an overall period of two years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Leadership changes continue at NITI Aayog

Jain's appointment follows a series of leadership changes at NITI Aayog this year.

In April, the Centre appointed economist Ashok Kumar Lahiri as the Vice Chairperson of the institution, replacing Suman K. Bery.

The government also named Rajiv Gauba, Professor K.V. Raju, Professor Gobardhan Das, Dr M. Srinivas and Professor Abhay Karandikar as full-time members of the Aayog, strengthening its leadership team across policy and governance.

NITI Aayog sharpens focus on investment and growth

The leadership appointment comes as NITI Aayog expands its work on improving India's investment ecosystem.

Earlier this week, the institution released its first Investment Friendliness Index 2026, which ranked Gujarat first among 17 major states with a score of 56.6, followed by Maharashtra (53.7) and Tamil Nadu (53.3).

The index evaluates states across 84 indicators grouped under eight pillars, covering areas such as policy and governance, infrastructure, business facilitation and fiscal management.

According to the report, while national reforms establish the broader policy direction, state governments play a central role in strengthening investment ecosystems through infrastructure, regulatory efficiency, institutional capacity and predictable policy frameworks. The index is intended to encourage competitive and cooperative federalism in support of the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.

Steering the next phase of policy execution

Jain assumes leadership of NITI Aayog at a time when the institution continues to play a central role in shaping India's long-term economic and development agenda.

With extensive experience across state and central administration, he takes charge as the government's policy think tank advances initiatives focused on investment competitiveness, governance reforms and sustainable economic growth.