New Delhi: Senior IAS Meeta R Lochan has been appointed Secretary of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
IAS Meeta R Lochan will take charge following the retirement of A Neeraja, a 1990-batch Indian Forest Service officer, on May 31, 2025.
Lochan, a 1990-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Maharashtra cadre, brings with her over three decades of administrative experience.
Prior to this appointment, she served as the secretary in the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, where she spearheaded several key initiatives.
Notably, she played a leading role in expanding Project SARTHI, a volunteer-led program designed to improve patient care in government hospitals. Under her leadership, the initiative was scaled up to 250 hospitals across 25 states, with a roadmap to reach more than 700 hospitals nationwide.
Throughout her career, Lochan has held several prominent positions. She was the Additional Director General of Foreign Trade in Mumbai and also held additional charge as Development Commissioner of the Santa Cruz Exclusive Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ). She previously served as Member Secretary of the National Commission for Women, where she contributed significantly to women-centric policy and advocacy.
Lochan’s appointment as the secretary of NCBC is expected to bring strategic focus and strong administrative leadership to the commission.
What is the National Commission for Backward Classes?
The NCBC is a constitutional body established under Article 338B to protect the rights of socially and educationally backward classes. It plays a key role in advising the government on OBC listings and monitoring welfare schemes for backward communities.
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