Manisha Chandra, an IAS officer of the 2004 Gujarat cadre, currently serves as Joint Secretary in the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi since May 28, 2025. Born on April 12, 1978, she holds an M.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in English Literature from Allahabad University, along with a Certificate in Intellectual Property Rights from The Indian Law Institute, New Delhi. Her past roles include Secretary to Government, Director, District Development Officer, Assistant Collector, Commissioner & Secretary, and District Collector. She has received multiple awards, including the SKOCH Order of Merit and the Kalam Innovations in Governance Awards.