Personal Details

• 🎂 Date of Birth
• 06 May 1959.
• 🏠 Place of Birth
• Delhi
• 🎓 Education
• Sanjay Mitra holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Physics, reflecting a strong academic foundation in the sciences. He further pursued a postgraduate degree in Economics, adding depth to his understanding of developmental policy and fiscal governance.
• To enhance his expertise in public affairs, he earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, equipping him with global perspectives on governance, leadership, and policy-making.

Early Career

• Sanjay Mitra embarked on his professional journey as a civil servant laying the foundation for his distinguished career.
• 💼 Entering the Civil Service
• Sanjay Mitra began his distinguished journey in public service as an officer of the 1982 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), allotted to the West Bengal cadre. From the outset, he demonstrated a strong commitment to governance and public welfare.
• His early career involved postings across various departments and districts, where he was exposed to diverse administrative challenges. These foundational roles provided him with a deep understanding of bureaucratic functioning, grassroots governance, and effective policy execution at both the state and central levels.
• 🌟 First Major Role
• One of the earliest significant milestones in his career was his appointment to key administrative positions at the district level in West Bengal. These roles were instrumental in shaping his grassroots governance capabilities. They offered him firsthand experience in addressing local issues, coordinating developmental efforts, and ensuring effective implementation of government schemes.
• 🚧 Overcoming Early Challenges
• Like many young civil servants, he faced the challenge of establishing his authority and credibility in a complex bureaucratic system. Gaining the trust of the local population, overcoming resistance within administrative circles, and driving developmental initiatives required strategic thinking, persistence, and adaptability. His ability to successfully navigate these challenges early in his career laid the groundwork for his future leadership roles

Career Journey

• Sanjay Mitra’s professional career spans several decades and includes key administrative and policy-making roles at both the state and central government levels, showcasing his deep engagement with India’s development and governance frameworks.
• 🏛️ Service in the Government of West Bengal
• Chief Secretary of West Bengal (2012–2015): Mitra was appointed the Chief Secretary of West Bengal in September 2012 by the Chief Minister. He formally assumed charge on 30 September 2012, becoming the top bureaucrat of the state. Over his three-year tenure, he led administrative coordination, implemented key state-level schemes, and ensured governance continuity. He demitted the office on 27 December 2015.
• Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare): He held this crucial position where he was instrumental in improving public healthcare services and driving health sector reforms in the state.
• ⚡ Deputation to Odisha
• Chairman & Managing Director, Grid Corporation of Odisha
• Chairperson & Managing Director, Orissa Thermal Power Corporation
  During his deputation to the Odisha cadre, Mitra took on senior leadership roles in the power sector, overseeing energy infrastructure and corporate management of public sector utilities.
• 🇮🇳 Roles in the Government of India
• Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development:
  In the early years of central deputation, he contributed to rural policy formulation and implementation.
• Joint Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO):
  Mitra played a key role in high-level planning and coordination during his tenure in the PMO, gaining national-level administrative experience.
• Union Road Transport and Highways Secretary (2016–2017):
  Appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) in December 2015, he took charge on 1 January 2016. He was responsible for overseeing the expansion and modernization of India’s national highway network. He held the position until 10 May 2017.
• Defence Secretary of India (2017–2019):
  In May 2017, Mitra was appointed as the Defence Secretary, succeeding G. Mohan Kumar. He served as Officer on Special Duty until Kumar's retirement and formally assumed office on 25 May 2017. As Defence Secretary, he was at the helm of defence policy, procurement, and strategic coordination. He retired from service on 23 August 2019, and was succeeded by Ajay Kumar.
• 🌐 International Engagement
• Consultant, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):
  Mitra also served in an advisory role with the UNDP, lending his expertise to international development initiatives.
• 🎓 Post-Retirement
• Professor of Practice, IIT Delhi:
  After retiring from the IAS, Sanjay Mitra joined the School of Public Policy at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi as a Professor of Practice, contributing to academic and policy research, and mentoring future policymakers.

Achievements and Milestones

• 🏆 Key Positions
• District Magistrate, North 24 Parganas
• Chairman & MD, Grid Corporation of Odisha / Orissa Thermal Power Corporation
• Resident Commissioner, West Bengal
• Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, West Bengal
• Chief Secretary, West Bengal – 30 Sep 2012 to 27 Dec 2015
• Union Road Transport and Highways Secretary – 1 Jan 2016 to 10 May 2017
• Union Defence Secretary of India – 25 May 2017 to 23 Aug 2019
• Acting Chairperson, DRDO – During tenure as Defence Secretary (for about 3 months in 2018–2019)
• Joint Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office
• Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development
• Consultant, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• Professor of Practice, School of Public Policy, IIT Delhi – Post-2019 (after retirement)