UPSC 2002 Topper Ankur Garg Named Advisor to Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu
Home Ministry Announces Major Bureaucratic Changes
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has undertaken a fresh round of administrative postings, transferring senior IAS officer Ankur Garg (2003 batch, AGMUT cadre) from Arunachal Pradesh to the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu (DNH&DD), where he will serve as Advisor to the Administrator.
This reshuffle also included the appointment of H. Rajesh Prasad, a 1995-batch IAS officer, as the new Chief Secretary of Chandigarh.
Profile of Ankur Garg: Youngest UPSC Topper of His Time
Ankur Garg rose to national prominence in 2002 when he secured All India Rank 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination at just 22 years of age. Belonging to the AGMUT cadre, he became the youngest candidate at the time to top the highly competitive exam, achieving the feat in his very first attempt.
Educational Background: IIT to Harvard
Garg has an exceptional academic trajectory:
B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi (1998–2002)
Master in International Development Policy (M.I.D.P.) from Harvard University (2018–2020)
During his Harvard stint, he distinguished himself as a macroeconomics scholar, famously scoring 171 marks out of a maximum of 170, an achievement rarely matched.
Professional Journey and Administrative Work
Before being reassigned to DNH&DD, Ankur Garg held the position of Commissioner, Economics & Statistics Department, Arunachal Pradesh. Over his two-decade career, he has served in diverse postings across Union Territories and the northeastern states, focusing on:
Economic policy formulation
Governance modernization
Data-centric and technology-driven administration
His fluency in multiple languages—including **Hindi, English, Punjabi, Bengali, and French—**further complements his administrative versatility.
Personal Life
Hailing from Patiala, Punjab, Ankur Garg is married to Swati Sharma. The couple has two sons. Despite his demanding career, Garg is known for balancing personal and professional commitments effectively. He is also active on social media, particularly Twitter, where he shares updates and perspectives with his 12,400+ followers.
Significance of the Appointment
As Advisor to the Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu, Garg will be closely involved in shaping the Union Territory’s development agenda, strengthening governance structures, and improving administrative efficiency.
Observers see this move as a deliberate step by the MHA to place a proven performer with strong academic and policy expertise in a territory that requires nuanced handling of governance and developmental challenges.
