Who Is IAS Manoj Agarwal? IIT Kanpur Graduate Appointed West Bengal Chief Secretary Under BJP Government
Senior IAS officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of West Bengal by the BJP government led by CM Suvendu Adhikari. Know his IIT Kanpur background, career, controversies, and key administrative roles.
Who Is IAS Manoj Agarwal? IIT Kanpur Graduate Appointed as West Bengal Chief Secretary by BJP Govt
Kolkata: In a major bureaucratic reshuffle following the formation of the new BJP government in West Bengal, senior IAS officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of the state. The appointment was officially announced on May 11, 2026, shortly after the swearing-in of the government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
A 1990-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre, Manoj Agarwal was previously serving as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal and ex-officio Additional Chief Secretary in the Home and Hill Affairs Department. With this appointment, he becomes the top bureaucrat in the state administration at a politically crucial time following the 2026 Assembly elections.
He replaces senior IAS officer Dushyant Nariala, who has now been posted to New Delhi as the Principal Resident Commissioner.
According to the official notification issued from Raj Bhavan, “The Governor is pleased to appoint Shri Manoj Kumar Agarwal, IAS (WB:1990), as Chief Secretary to the Government of West Bengal.”
IIT Kanpur Graduate With Long Administrative Experience
Born on July 8, 1966, Manoj Kumar Agarwal originally belongs to Uttar Pradesh. He completed his schooling at the prestigious La Martiniere College in Lucknow before pursuing higher studies at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur.
He earned a B.Tech degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kanpur and later joined the Indian Administrative Service through the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
Over a career spanning more than 36 years, Agarwal has handled numerous important assignments in district administration, state governance, disaster management, elections, food distribution, and central deputation.
Officials familiar with his work describe him as an experienced administrator with deep understanding of governance, electoral systems, and policy execution.
Held 27 Major Administrative Assignments
Throughout his bureaucratic career, IAS Manoj Agarwal has served in several high-profile roles across West Bengal and the Central Government.
Important District-Level Assignments
He served as:
District Magistrate of North Dinajpur between 1999 and 2001
District Magistrate of Bardhaman between 2001 and 2003
These assignments helped establish his administrative profile at the grassroots level.
Senior Secretariat and State-Level Roles
Over the years, he handled several crucial departments in the West Bengal government, including:
Principal Secretary, Food and Supplies Department
Principal Secretary, Fire and Emergency Services
Additional Chief Secretary, Forest Department
Additional Chief Secretary, Disaster Management and Civil Defence
His experience in disaster management and civil defence became particularly significant during periods of natural calamities and administrative emergencies in the state.
Experience in Central Government
Apart from his state-level responsibilities, Agarwal also served on central deputation in New Delhi.
During this period, he worked as:
Personal Secretary to former Union Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi
Officer in assignments linked to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA)
He currently also serves as President of the West Bengal State IAS Association.
Role as Chief Electoral Officer Drew National Attention
In March 2025, Manoj Agarwal was appointed Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal ahead of the politically sensitive 2026 Assembly elections.
His appointment attracted attention after the Election Commission reportedly rejected the state government’s initial panel of officers and sought a revised shortlist of candidates expected to remain in service until after the elections.
As CEO, Agarwal supervised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across West Bengal. The exercise became highly controversial after reports emerged that nearly 91 lakh voter names had been removed from electoral records during the revision process.
The issue quickly turned into a major political flashpoint in the state.
Faced Political Criticism During Election Period
During his tenure as CEO, Agarwal came under strong criticism from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
TMC leaders accused him of allegedly favouring the BJP during the voter list revision process. The party also filed complaints before the Election Commission alleging “partisan conduct.”
Senior TMC leader Chandrima Bhattacharya additionally referred to an older disproportionate assets case involving the officer.
According to records, the CBI had filed a chargesheet in 2013 alleging that Agarwal and his wife possessed disproportionate assets worth approximately Rs 1.46 crore. However, a Delhi court acquitted him in 2018. The acquittal was later challenged by the CBI in the Delhi High Court, where proceedings are still pending.
Despite political controversies, many within administrative circles continue to regard him as a firm and independent bureaucrat.
BJP Government Defends Appointment
The BJP strongly backed Manoj Agarwal’s appointment as Chief Secretary and described him as the senior-most suitable officer available in the state administration.
Party leaders stated that the appointment reflected the new government’s commitment to administrative transparency, institutional discipline, and restoration of bureaucratic norms.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, BJP leaders claimed the appointment was in line with the party’s promise to restore “the dignity of governance and constitutional procedures.”
The party also alleged that earlier governments had ignored seniority norms while making top bureaucratic appointments.
Brief but Politically Significant Tenure Ahead
Manoj Agarwal’s elevation is being seen as politically significant because he moves directly from supervising the Assembly elections as Chief Electoral Officer to becoming the administrative head of the state government.
His long experience in governance, district administration, elections, and policy implementation is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the functioning of the newly formed BJP government in West Bengal.
According to service records, Agarwal is scheduled to retire on July 31, 2026, meaning his tenure as Chief Secretary may be relatively short. However, officials believe his role during this important political transition period could have a lasting impact on the administrative direction of the state.
