New Delhi: IAS Dr. Neeraj Mittal, a 1992-batch officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, has assumed charge as Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).
Mittal succeeds in the role after serving as Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
Since joining the IAS in 1992, Mittal has handled a wide range of administrative responsibilities across sectors such as land and revenue management, mines and minerals, information technology, communications, and e-governance. During his central deputation, he has worked in key ministries, including Telecommunications, Commerce and Industry, and Petroleum and Natural Gas, gaining deep exposure to policy and implementation at the national level.
In his home cadre of Tamil Nadu, Mittal has held several senior leadership roles. These include the CEO of the Tamil Nadu Industrial Guidance and Export Promotion Bureau, the Additional Chief Secretary in the Information Technology and Digital Services Department, and the Managing Director and CEO of the Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation.
An electrical engineering graduate from IIT Kanpur, Mittal brings a strong academic background to the position. He holds an MBA from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom and a PhD in Economics and Management Information Systems from the Fisher College of Business, Ohio State University, USA. He has also authored several academic publications.
Mittal is widely known for leading technology-driven governance initiatives. His work includes Project Arrow in the Department of Posts, the e-Biz project in the Department of Commerce, and the PAHAL scheme, the world’s largest LPG cash transfer program. He also played a key role in the GiveItUp campaign. Another major initiative, Project Lakshya, a transparency portal providing real-time visibility of nearly three million LPG deliveries daily, received the National e-Governance Award.
As Petroleum Secretary, Mittal will oversee policy, exploration, production, refining, distribution, marketing, and trade in the oil and gas sector. He will also focus on energy security, conservation, and the promotion of clean energy to support India’s growing economy.
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