Shri Vineet Joshi IAS (Manipur 1992), currently serving as the Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, has been given the additional responsibility of Secretary for the Department of School Education & Literacy from November 8, 2025, to November 16, 2025, during the absence on leave of Shri Sanjay Kumar IAS (Bihar 1990).
Shri Joshi is a distinguished officer of the Indian Administrative Service, currently holding the position of Secretary in the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India. Renowned for his thoughtful leadership, academic insight, and reform-oriented approach, he has significantly influenced India's education governance landscape for over two decades.
He holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kanpur, where he established a solid technical foundation and demonstrated early analytical clarity in his career. He later obtained an MBA in International Business from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi, graduating as a Gold Medalist, which highlights his academic excellence. His interest in organizational systems and performance improvement led him to earn a Ph.D. in Quality Management from IIFT, establishing a data-driven evaluation and institutional strengthening framework for his public administration efforts.
Throughout his career in the Indian Bureaucracy, Shri Joshi has held several key positions within the education sector at both the national and state levels. Before his current role, he served as Chief Secretary to the Government of Manipur, where he oversaw administrative coordination, governance reforms, and public welfare programs during a crucial phase of state-level institutional functioning. His ability to navigate complex administrative environments with composure and clarity has earned him recognition as a calm and effective administrator.
Earlier, Shri Joshi served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Higher Education, contributing to national-level policymaking and large-scale academic reforms. A pivotal aspect of his career was his leadership as Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), where he served two significant tenures. During this time, he focused on curriculum modernization, examination reforms, academic governance frameworks, and digitization initiatives that positively impacted millions of students and institutions across India. His tenure emphasized transparency, student welfare, and enhanced academic standards.
He also played a crucial role in establishing and operationalizing the National Testing Agency (NTA), initially as Director General. Under his leadership, the NTA evolved into a professional, technology-driven assessment organization responsible for conducting some of India's most important national examinations. His contributions helped standardize testing systems, improve the reliability of assessment processes, and introduce technology-enabled evaluation mechanisms.
In various state-level roles in Manipur, including Commissioner and Principal Secretary across departments such as Finance, Planning, Higher Education, and Public Works, Shri Joshi focused on development planning, infrastructure improvement, administrative modernization, and public engagement. His career demonstrates consistent involvement in systems of long-term national importance, including education, public administration, and institutional capacity-building.
As Secretary of Higher Education, he currently oversees key national initiatives related to universities, research ecosystems, skill integration, digital learning platforms, and implementation frameworks under the National Education Policy (NEP). His leadership is widely acknowledged in Indian Bureaucracy Latest News, underscoring his pivotal role in shaping the future of India’s higher education landscape.
The Secretary of the Department of School Education & Literacy plays a central role in formulating India's school education policies and ensuring inclusive, equitable, and quality learning for children across the nation. This position involves overseeing major schemes such as Samagra Shiksha, PM SHRI Schools, and initiatives that promote foundational literacy and numeracy. The Secretary collaborates with state governments, academic bodies, and national institutions to strengthen curriculum frameworks, teacher training programs, digital learning systems, and school infrastructure. A core priority of this role is to reduce learning gaps and improve educational outcomes, especially in rural and underserved regions. Significant updates related to this position frequently appear in Indian Bureaucracy Latest News.
Shri Vineet Joshi’s career is characterized by a combination of academic excellence, administrative depth, and a steadfast commitment to systemic improvement and the public good.
Indian Bureaucracy Dot Com wishes Shri Vineet Joshi the very best.