Harshad R Patel, born on 13 November 1976, is an Indian Administrative Service officer from the 2005 Gujarat cadre. He holds an M.A. in Public Policy from Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, and a B.A. (Hons) in English. Currently serving as Secretary at Gujarat's Department of Social Justice and Empowerment since 22 December 2025, Patel has held various key positions including Commissioner, District Collector, and Managing Director. He has received multiple awards such as the Government of Gujarat Best District Collector and the HUDCO Design Award. He is proficient in English, Gujarati, and Hindi.