# Sumita Misra

Sumita Misra (born 30 January 1967) is an Indian Administrative Service officer and poet. Currently, she is posted as Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Jails, Criminal Investigation & Administration of Justice Departments Government of Haryana. Misra belongs to the IAS, India's elite civil service, tasked with commanding policy, governance, and administration nationwide.

## Early life and education

Sumita Misra was born on January 30, 1967 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. she earned degrees in Economics and Math after attending Loreto Convent and La Martiniere schools. She did a Ph.D in Economics from Kurukshetra University in 2015.
In addition to her formal education, she has expertise in public policy through intensive programs at institutions like Harvard University, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, the Royal Institute of Public Administration in London, the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, and the University of Cambridge.

## Career

Sumita Misra, a member of the IAS since 1990, has held several government roles in Haryana, such as SDM, DC, and Administrator HUDA. She also served as Vice chancellor of Maharana Pratap Horticulture University in 2022-23. She was posted as Senior Advisor in the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister at New Delhi for three years (2018-21) where she advised on policy subjects including 'Circular Economy' and 'Blue Economy.

### PM's Economic Advisory Council

Sumita Misra began a three-year term in the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council in December 2017. Misra currently holds the position of Home Secretary, Haryana. Before that she held various positions Including Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Haryana, responsible for the Medical Education & Research Department, Women and Child Development Department, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department, Development and Panchayats Department Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Chairperson Haryana Pollution Board, Transport Commissioner Haryana and Chief Electoral Officer Haryana
Three National Awards for outstanding work in renewable energy were bestowed upon Haryana by President Pratibha Patil in 2007 during her role as director. Through her leadership, Haryana achieved a record-breaking three-peat National Award for Energy Conservation. Additionally, her 2005 Renewable Energy Power Policy attracted 5000 crores in investment from independent producers.

### Surajkund International Craft Fair

During her tenure as Managing Director (2013-2016), she orchestrated three Surajkund International Crafts Melas (28th, 29th, 30th), culminating in the record-breaking 2016 edition. This largest-ever Mela attracted 23 countries, 1.5 million visitors.

### Agriculture and Horticulture

Under the leadership of Sumita Misra, Haryana launched the Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) method, and ongoing training programs are educating farmers about its benefits.
During her tenure as Additional Chief Secretary for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in Haryana from 2021 to 2023, she championed successful initiatives like crop diversification programs (Mera Pani Meri Virasat), natural farming practices, Direct Seeded Rice adoption, and crop residue management. In the horticulture sector, her leadership led to the adoption of innovative technologies like vertical farming and the establishment of poly and net houses. Additionally, schemes like the Mukhyamantri Bagwani Bima Yojana and the Haryana Beekeeping Policy were launched in 2021-22.

### Crèche policy in Haryana

Sumita Misra's efforts were key to making Haryana the first state in India to implement a crèche policy in July 2023.

### Chandigarh Literary Society

Sumita Misra set up the Chandigarh Literary Society and is the Festival Director of Chandigarh Litfest (CLF), Literati, Chandigarh's annual literary feast, which began in 2013 at the Lake Club of Sukhna Lake.

## Notable works

* A Life of Light - 2012
* Zara Si Dhoop - 2013
* Waqt Ke Ujale Mein - 2016
* Petrichor - 2017
* Lamhou Ki Shabnam - 2022

## Awards

Sumita Misra was recognised for "Best Destination Stewardship" in India (WTTCI-HVS, 2014–15).
She was awarded with 'Award of Recognition 2024' by Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi.
She was awarded with 'State Level Flagship Award' on "Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sushasan Diwas" by the Hon'ble Chief Minister, Haryana. This was for excellent performance in implementing the flagship scheme "Meri Fasal Mera Byora", implemented by Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Department.
She was awarded with 'Agriculture Leadership Award-2021' conferred to Horticulture in the year 2021-22.
She was awarded Best Book in Hindi poetry in 2016-17 by the Chandigarh Sahitya Academy for Waqt Ke Ujale Mein.