Anurag Jain Emerges as Frontrunner as Search for Next NITI Aayog CEO Intensifies
The race to find a permanent CEO for NITI Aayog has heated up with three Union Secretary-rank IAS officers in contention. Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary Anurag Jain has emerged as the leading candidate for the apex policy body's top position.
The search for India's next NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer has entered a decisive phase, with bureaucratic sources pointing to three Union Secretary-rank IAS officers as the principal contenders. Of these, Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary Anurag Jain (retd. IAS: 1989: MP) has reportedly emerged as the strongest candidate for the coveted position at the country's premier policy think-tank. The post has been managed on an additional charge basis by Nidhi Chhibber (IAS: 1994: CG), who currently serves as Director General, DMEO at NITI Aayog, ever since BVR Subrahmanyam (retd. IAS: 1987: CG) concluded his tenure on February 24, 2026. Subrahmanyam, who was originally appointed in February 2023 and received a one-year extension in 2025, was a widely regarded figure in policy circles. The government is now expected to formalise a permanent appointment to steer the institution, which plays a central role in shaping India's development strategy and long-term economic planning.
