Overview
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Anurag Jain as chief executive officer of NITI Aayog in an order issued on July 22, and his term is tied to his approved service extension and a maximum two‑year period.
- Jain is a 1989‑batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre with nearly four decades of experience in the PMO, DPIIT and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
- His record includes leading PM Gati Shakti implementation, work on the production linked incentive schemes and a role in designing the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, experience reporters link to NITI Aayog’s execution priorities.
- The move ended the interim charge held by Nidhi Chhibber after B. V. R. Subrahmanyam’s extended term ended in February 2026, and prompted Madhya Pradesh to appoint Ashok Barnwal as officiating chief secretary who has since taken charge.
- With economist Ashok Kumar Lahiri already named vice chair in April, Jain’s appointment strengthens NITI Aayog’s leadership team and could shift the body toward tighter monitoring, ministry coordination and faster rollout of national infrastructure and manufacturing plans.