Naresh Pal Gangwar is a 1994-batch IAS officer. Before his latest appointment, he served as Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. An engineer by training, Gangwar has a strong academic background. (File Photo)

Gangwar holds a BTech in Electronics and Communication from the University of Roorkee. He completed MTech in Communication from IIT Delhi, and later earned an MA in Economics from the University of Rajasthan. (File Photo)

Over nearly three decades in public service, Gangwar has held several key assignments in both the Rajasthan government and the Centre. He has served as Principal Secretary in the Rajasthan government and later as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, where he handled important subjects including pollution control, hazardous substances management and environmental regulation. (Image: X)

Recently, he headed the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, overseeing policy relating to livestock, dairy development and animal health.

As the new Higher Education Secretary, Gangwar will now be responsible for steering policy on universities, higher educational institutions, technical education and flagship reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP).