Who Is Mamta Verma, The New Secretary In Gujarat's Industry & Mines Ministry?

This is the second time Verma has been posted to the crucial department. Earlier she had a long stint as Commissioner of Industries, the nodal agency for industrial development in the state.

In Gandhinagar’s corridors of power, she is one of the few officers who has consistently held crucial positions in the last 15 years. The positions she held include Commissioner of Industries, Secretary of Tourism and Pilgrimage, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA), Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority (GUDA), Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, and lastly the Principal Secretary of the Energy and Petrochemicals Department.

During her field postings, she has served in several tribal-dominated districts such as Dahod, Dangs and Bharuch.

“Her amiable nature and low profile have helped her become one of the most popular officers in the state bureaucracy. Also, she is hard working and delivers on her assignment,” a senior officer said.

In her last posting as Principal Secretary of the Energy and Petrochemical Department, she ensured that the state did not face any power shortage during the 2022 assembly polls or 2024 parliamentary polls.

“In the energy sector; she has contributed by focusing on the state’s energy requirements during a challenging period,” a top officer who recently transitioned from bureaucracy to a political role told The Secretariat.

Earlier as industries commissioner, she had played a crucial role in organising the state’s flagship Vibrant Gujarat summits, streamlining subsidies for small and medium enterprises, and overall industrial development of the state.

Among the five 1996 batch IAS officials in the state cadre, she has held the most important portfolios in the state administration.

Her importance in the state administration can be seen from the fact that despite repeated requests to allow her to join the central government on deputation, the state government has not obliged her. This has resulted in her not being empanelled as an Additional Secretary in the Centre along with her other batchmates.

At a personal level, she is seen as an extremely cordial and very approachable officer who attends to even small issues in her domain besides having an impeccable record.

When she was the Energy Secretary, her husband, who is two batches junior to her, was the Managing Director of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC), which functions under the Energy Department.

Consequently, she had declined to be on the board of GSPC and its other group companies, pointing out that she should be at arm's length distance from the companies being helmed by her husband.

Normally, the Secretary of Energy is an ex-officio director on the board of state PSUs like GSPC, GNFC, GSFC, etc.

Her husband Sanjiv Kumar a 1998 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, is currently Principal Secretary, Environment and Forest Department.

Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Verma is a second-generation bureaucrat.