Deepti Gaur Mukherjee assumes charge as higher education secretary

Senior bureaucrat Deepti Gaur Mukherjee on Wednesday officially took charge as the secretary of the department of higher education under the education ministry.Deepti Gaur Mukherjee assumes charge as higher education secretary (X)Mukherjee, a 1993-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, moves into the position after serving as secretary in the ministry of corporate affairs.What the role entailsThe department of higher education looks after the government’s policies and programmes related to universities, colleges and other higher education institutions.READ ALSO | UP youth groups announce 'Justice Morcha', plan 50-day campaign on education, jobsIt oversees areas such as funding, quality and access to higher education, student and teacher-related issues, research and major education reforms, while also coordinating with bodies such as the UGC and centrally funded institutions.As secretary, Mukherjee will be the department’s top bureaucrat and will oversee the implementation of these policies and programmes.About Deepti Gaur MukerjeeMukerjee has held several senior administrative positions during her career, including important assignments in Madhya Pradesh. Her work in the state included senior roles in the school education department and the state education mission.ALSO READ | Education minister Pralhad Joshi chairs first meeting over NTA-related concerns, aims for stronger exam systemsHer education-sector experience included involvement in programmes aimed at improving learning outcomes and encouraging reading among schoolchildren. A 2017 ministry of education document, for instance, records her participation in discussions on the implementation of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in Madhya Pradesh, including initiatives such as Mil Banche and Kahani Utsav.Before moving to the ministry of corporate affairs, Mukerjee served as chief executive officer of the National Health Authority. She took charge as secretary, ministry of corporate affairs, in August 2024.The ministry deals with corporate regulation, governance, insolvency-related matters and the broader regulatory framework for companies operating in India.ALSO READ | 'Pralhad Joshi's only qualification is RSS background': Congress slams govt's education minister pickChallenges aheadMukerjee takes charge at a time when higher education is undergoing several changes, from examination and admissions systems to institutional reforms and the wider implementation of NEP 2020.