Shri Manoj Ahuja, IAS (1988 Batch, Odisha Cadre), is one of India’s most respected civil servants, known for his leadership in both education and agriculture. A former Chairman of CBSE and Secretary of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, he has been instrumental in advancing digital governance, policy innovation, and farmer-centric reforms. Currently serving as Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, he continues to play a pivotal role in driving India’s mission toward sustainable and technology-enabled agriculture.
Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
📅 Transition: June 2024
🏛️ Government of India — Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
🧾 Role: Officer on Special Duty (Agriculture) under Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
🌱 Coordinates key national initiatives:
Implementation of Atmanirbhar Krishi
Integration of digital databases across agricultural missions
Modernization of Kisan Call Centres and crop analytics systems
Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
📅 Appointed: 2022
🏛️ Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India
👔 Position: Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW)
🌾 Oversaw national agricultural programs:
PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi
Digital Agriculture Mission 2022–25
Natural Farming & FPO Promotion
🤝 Worked closely with state governments for farmer-centric digital reforms
📈 Advocated data-driven agriculture and sustainable resource management
Chairman, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
📅 Appointed: May 2020
🏛️ Ministry of Education, Government of India
📘 Led CBSE during the COVID-19 pandemic, steering major policy changes including:
Digital evaluation & learning tools for students
AI-driven exam reforms and hybrid education models
Collaboration with UNESCO, Microsoft, and IBM for school innovation programs
🏆 Credited with stabilizing India’s school education ecosystem during the pandemic
Roles in Government of India
🏛️ Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
👔 Served as Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture
🧩 Worked on National Agricultural Market (e-NAM) and crop insurance reforms
🌍 Contributed to the modernization of India’s agricultural data systems and market linkages
📢 Focused on technology-driven service delivery and farmer digital empowerment
Senior Administrative Roles in Odisha
🏛️ Government of Odisha
🧾 Departments Served:
Department of Agriculture — Director of Agriculture & Food Production
Department of Industry — Managing Director, Odisha State Industrial Development Corporation (IDCO)
Department of Education — Commissioner-cum-Secretary, School & Mass Education
📈 Led several e-governance and education modernization projects
🌾 Introduced innovative policies to improve agricultural productivity and farmer outreach programs
Early Civil Service Career
📅 Joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) — Odisha Cadre, 1988 Batch
🏛️ Initial Assignments:
Sub-Collector, Balasore District, Odisha
District Magistrate & Collector, Mayurbhanj
District Magistrate & Collector, Sambalpur
🌾 Focused on rural development, tribal welfare, and infrastructure improvement
🏆 Recognized for his transparent and technology-driven approach in district administration
Early Life & Education
📍 Birthplace: Haryana, India
🎓 Education:
B.E. (Mechanical Engineering) — Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala
MBA — Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore)
Public Policy & Management (Executive Programme) — Harvard University, USA
🌱 Known for academic excellence and administrative discipline with a strong focus on governance, technology, and education reform