Aparna Garg Appointed Member (Finance) of Railway Board: Senior IRAS Officer Brings 36 Years of Financial Leadership to Indian Railways
Senior Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) officer Aparna Garg, a distinguished member of the 1987 batch, has formally assumed charge as the Member (Finance) of the Railway Board effective December 1, 2025. With a career spanning more than three and a half decades, Garg is regarded as one of India’s most experienced and respected civil servants in the financial and administrative ecosystem of the Government of India.
A Veteran Finance Professional Joins the Top Leadership of Indian Railways
By taking over the Finance portfolio of the Railway Board—the highest decision-making body of the national transporter—Garg now oversees the financial strategy, expenditure management, budget formulation, revenue planning, auditing mechanisms, and long-term investment decisions of one of the world’s largest rail networks. Her appointment comes at a crucial moment, as Indian Railways is in the midst of its biggest transformation involving infrastructure modernization, high-speed corridors, digital integration, and public-private partnerships.
Wide-Ranging Experience Across Key Railway Departments
Throughout her 36-year career, Aparna Garg has held numerous pivotal assignments that shaped her expertise in railway finance, operations, and administrative policy. Among her most notable roles are:
Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Mysuru Division – where she supervised passenger operations, safety initiatives, logistics management, and infrastructural development across one of the most important South Western Railway divisions.
Principal Financial Advisor, Rail Wheel Factory – leading financial oversight for one of Indian Railways’ premier production units, responsible for manufacturing wheels and axles for the national network.
Director General, Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management (IRIFM) – heading the apex training institution responsible for grooming railway finance professionals and enhancing financial governance standards across the organisation.
Her leadership experience spans both field-level operations and top-tier administrative responsibilities, giving her a well-rounded understanding of railway functioning.
International Exposure and Global Leadership Training
Aparna Garg brings strong academic and global credentials to her new role. She is a Chevening Fellow, a prestigious UK-government international leadership scholarship awarded to individuals with exceptional professional track records.
She also holds an Advanced Master’s degree in Transport Economics from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, a globally recognised centre for transport studies. Her academic exposure has contributed to her in-depth understanding of transport policy, cost analysis, financial modelling, and infrastructure economics.
Beyond this, she has undergone executive training at several of the world’s leading management institutions:
SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan
INSEAD, Singapore
Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad
These programs have equipped her with advanced skills in strategic leadership, infrastructure finance, and public-sector project management.
A Significant Appointment for Indian Railways
With her vast experience, academic strength, and international exposure, Aparna Garg’s induction as the Member (Finance) is expected to strengthen fiscal discipline, enhance investment efficiency, and support the Railways’ push toward technological modernization and financially sustainable expansion.
Her appointment marks a significant milestone in the ongoing restructuring of the Railway Board, aligning leadership positions with strategic priorities for the next decade.
