Senior IAS officer Chanchal Kumar has been appointed as Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, placing him at the helm of one of the most dynamic and sensitive sectors of governance.
A 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Bihar cadre, Kumar brings with him more than three decades of administrative experience spanning grassroots governance, state administration and key assignments at the Centre.
Born on July 6, 1969, in Madhubani district of Bihar, Kumar completed his early education in his native village before moving to higher studies. He is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, where he pursued B.Tech and M.Tech in Computer Science. He later earned a Master’s degree in Economics from Duke University in the United States and went on to complete a PhD in Economics from Patna University.
Kumar joined the IAS in 1992 at the age of 22 and was allotted his home cadre, Bihar. His early career was rooted in field administration, beginning as Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Supaul. He went on to serve as District Magistrate in key districts including Kaimur, Bokaro (now in Jharkhand), East Champaran and Nalanda, handling critical governance and development responsibilities.
He also served as Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC) in Katihar and Palamu, gaining significant experience in rural development and district-level planning.
A major phase of his career was spent in the Chief Minister’s Office in Bihar under Nitish Kumar. Over the years, he held several key roles including Special Secretary, Secretary and Principal Secretary. As Principal Secretary between 2016 and 2022, he played a central role in policy formulation, governance reforms and administrative coordination.
In addition to his role in the CMO, Kumar also served as Principal Secretary in important departments such as General Administration and Building Construction, where he handled core governance and infrastructure-related matters.
At the Centre, Kumar has held several important assignments. He served as Managing Director of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) from 2022 to 2023, overseeing infrastructure projects in challenging regions. He also worked as Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Civil Aviation and earlier held positions in the Ministries of Commerce and Railways.
In September 2023, he was appointed Secretary in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), where he supervised infrastructure and connectivity-led development initiatives across the region, requiring close coordination between central and state governments.
Known for his technocratic approach and administrative depth, Kumar’s career reflects a blend of strong academic grounding and extensive governance experience. His exposure to both grassroots administration and high-level policymaking is expected to be crucial in his role as Secretary, Information and Broadcasting, especially at a time when the media landscape is rapidly evolving.
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