S Aparna (lAS) assumes charge as Secretary of Department of Pharmaceuticals

New Delhi: S Aparna (IAS) has assumed charge as new Secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers on Thursday. She is a 1988-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Gujarat cadre. With her new assignment, she has replaced Dr PD Vaghela (IAS) who superannuated on September 30.

Aparna's profile

Aparna has a master's degree in science (MSc in Zoology) and an MPhil in Energy & Environment. She also did an MBA in International Finance. Arpana is a senior bureaucrat and has served various important positions in the state governments as well as in the Central government. She was appointed to the post of Executive Director in the World Bank in 2017, where she represented the Constituency of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. In 2019, she was given a proforma promotion as Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) while she was on deputation in Washington DC as Executive Director, World Bank. She has also served as Principal Secretary to the then Chief Minister of Gujarat.

Also read: Govt appoints Ajay Kumar Bhalla (IAS) as Secretary of DoPT

Department of Pharmaceuticals 

The Department of Pharmaceuticals was created on the July 1, in the year 2008 in the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers with the objective of giving greater focus and thrust to the development of the pharmaceutical sector in the country and to regulate various complex issues related to pricing and availability of medicines at affordable prices, research & development, protection of intellectual property rights and international commitments related to the pharmaceutical sector which required integration of work with other ministries.

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