Smita Nagaraj, born on 22 September 1958, is a retired IAS officer from the 1984 Tamil Nadu cadre. She holds postgraduate and graduate degrees in Political Science and a Diploma in Mass Communication. Throughout her career, she served in various capacities including Sub Collector, Project Officer, Under Secretary, Joint Secretary, Executive Director, Director, Special Secretary, Principal Secretary, Secretary, and Chairman and Managing Director. Her most recent position was Member Secretary Equivalent in the Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions from December 2017 to September 2018.