Anoop Mishra, a 1978-batch IAS officer, has been appointed the 45th chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh, ahead of many seniors and other likely contenders.
The confidence that Chief Minister Mayawati has reposed in Mishra can be gauged from the fact that she has chosen him to head the state bureaucracy, cold-shouldering others in the selection process, even as Assembly elections are due next year.
Before this, Mishra has been the infrastructure and industrial development commissioner (IIDC) and principal finance secretary. He has also had stints at the Centre in various capacities, including at the Indian Embassy in Washington DC.
According to the convention, all officials senior to Mishra would now be posted away from the state secretariat. The incumbent Atul Kumar Gupta retires on March 31.
Since taking over as IIDC, Mishra had been actively involved in pushing industrial and infrastructure projects with help from the private sector, under PPP mode, in highways, airports and transport, among other sectors.
Known to be an upright and no-nonsense officer, Mishra is well-read and witty and has a cheerful disposition. He is fond of black herbal tea, which he offers to his visitors too.
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During 2005-08, as the minister (economic affairs), Embassy of India, Washington DC, he handled Indo-US CEO forum, agricultural knowledge initiative and financial & economic forum. He also facilitated development of the portal ‘Doing Business in India’.
Mishra’s other central government assignments had been during 1986-90, when he was deputy secretary in the petroleum and natural gas ministry. He handled the third round of production-sharing contracts (now known as Nelp) and natural gas portfolio.