Rajeev Singh Thakur IAS Profile: Rajeev Singh Thakur is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1995 batch from the Rajasthan cadre. He is currently associated with NITI Aayog as Programme Director for Administration, Governance & Reforms and Infrastructure Connectivity-II. His NITI Aayog responsibilities have included areas such as administration, governance and reforms, rural development and infrastructure connectivity.
However, there has been a major development in his career this week. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved his inter-cadre deputation from the Rajasthan cadre to the Manipur cadre until 30 June 2029, which is his date of superannuation. He is expected to become the next Chief Secretary of Manipur, succeeding Dr. Puneet Kumar Goel. The formal state government notification is awaited.
Rajeev Singh Thakur IAS Profile
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rajeev Singh Thakur |
| Service | Indian Administrative Service |
| Batch | 1995 |
| Cadre | Rajasthan |
| Recruitment | Direct Recruit |
| Date of Birth | 29 June 1969 |
| Domicile | Bilaspur, Madhya Pradesh |
| Current Central Assignment | Programme Director/Adviser, NITI Aayog |
| Latest Development | Inter-cadre deputation approved from Rajasthan to Manipur |
| Expected New Role | Chief Secretary, Manipur |
| Pay Level | Level 17 |
| Retirement Date | 30 June 2029 |
| Education | B.Sc., M.A. Economics, Master of Public Policy |
Beginning of His IAS Career
Rajeev Singh Thakur joined the IAS in 1995 and was allotted the Rajasthan cadre. His early career was largely spent in field administration. He began as a Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) in Bali, Pali, and later worked as SDO in Rajsamand. He then became Additional Collector (Development) and Ex-Officio Project Director, DRDA, Rajsamand.
He served as District Collector and District Magistrate of Banswara, followed by assignments as Collector of Bhilwara, Alwar, Karauli and Sri Ganganagar at different stages of his career. His longest early district assignment was as Collector, Banswara, where he served from August 2001 to May 2003.
He later served as Collector of Bhilwara and Alwar, before moving to senior positions in the Rajasthan Government and Central Government. After his district assignments, Thakur moved into the health sector in Rajasthan. He served as Deputy Secretary in the Medical & Health Department and later as Director, Medical & Health (IEC) and Project Director, NRHM, Rajasthan.
Rural development has also been an important part of his career. He served as Secretary, Rural Development Department and Commissioner, Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS), Rajasthan. He was later associated with livelihood projects and self-help groups as Secretary and Mission Director.
Work in the Central Government
Rajeev Singh Thakur has spent several years working with the Government of India. One of his early Central assignments was as Private Secretary to the Union Minister for Rural Development. He later served as Private Secretary to the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. After that, he worked as Director in the Ministry of Power.
A major step in his Central career came in 2017, when the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet appointed Rajeev Singh Thakur as Joint Secretary, Department of Defence.
The official PIB release dated 21 November 2017 confirms his appointment as Joint Secretary, Department of Defence, for a tenure of five years or until further orders. He later moved to the newly created Department of Military Affairs (DMA). In January 2020, the government appointed him as Joint Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs.
After his defence assignments, Rajeev Singh Thakur moved to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. He served as Additional Secretary, DPIIT, from December 2021 to December 2024.
In July 2024, he chaired the 76th meeting of the Network Planning Group under PM GatiShakti. He also spoke publicly about the progress of the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and the National Logistics Policy in 2024.
Role in PM GatiShakti
His work at DPIIT included an important role in the PM GatiShakti framework. The Network Planning Group examines major infrastructure projects to ensure that they fit with the broader national infrastructure plan. In November 2024, reporting on the programme quoted Rajeev Singh Thakur as saying that more than 228 infrastructure projects worth over ₹15.88 lakh crore had been approved under the PM GatiShakti framework over the preceding three years.
After completing his tenure at DPIIT, Rajeev Singh Thakur moved to NITI Aayog. A NITI Aayog notification dated 4 February 2025 records his appointment as Adviser in NITI Aayog in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary. The notification says he joined NITI Aayog on 1 February 2025.
Rajeev Singh Thakur IAS Career Timeline
| Period | Position | Department / Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 – Present transition | Adviser / Programme Director | NITI Aayog |
| 2021 – 2024 | Additional Secretary | DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry |
| 2020 – 2021 | Joint Secretary | Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence |
| 2017 – 2020 | Joint Secretary | Department of Defence, Ministry of Defence |
| 2013 – 2014 | Director | Ministry of Power |
| 2011 – 2013 | Private Secretary | Ministry of Road Transport & Highways |
| 2009 – 2011 | Private Secretary | Ministry of Rural Development |
| 2009 | Collector & District Magistrate | Sri Ganganagar |
| 2007 | Collector & District Magistrate | Karauli |
| 2006 – 2007 | Deputy Secretary | Medical & Health Department, Rajasthan |
| 2005 – 2006 | Collector & District Magistrate | Alwar |
| 2004 – 2005 | Collector & District Magistrate | Bhilwara |
| 2003 – 2004 | Deputy Secretary | Home Department, Rajasthan |
| 2001 – 2003 | Collector & District Magistrate | Banswara |
| 2000 – 2001 | Additional Collector | Jaipur |
| 1999 – 2000 | Additional Collector (Development) | Rajsamand |
| 1998 – 1999 | SDO | Rajsamand |
| 1997 – 1998 | SDO | Bali, Pali |
| 1995 – 1997 | IAS Training | LBSNAA |
Rajeev Singh Thakur IAS Family, Edcuation & Rank
Rajeev Singh Thakur IAS has an academic background in science, economics and public policy. His official service profile lists B.Sc., M.A. in Economics and Master of Public Policy (MPP) as his qualifications. He also completed a Young Leaders Programme at the Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo, Japan, during his career.
Family Details
There is very little verified information available publicly about Rajeev Singh Thakur’s family. Government records and the official NITI Aayog profile do not provide the names of his wife, parents or children.
UPSC Rank
Rajeev Singh Thakur cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination and joined the IAS in the 1995 batch, with allocation to the Rajasthan cadre. However, I could not find a reliable official UPSC record confirming his All India Rank (AIR), marks or number of attempts.





















