Rajesh Agrawal has assumed charge as Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in New Delhi. Before being appointed Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Agarwal was overseeing India's trade negotiations with various countries under free trade agreements. Rajesh Agrawal is a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Manipur cadre.
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| Rajesh Agrawal Assumes Charge As Secretary, Department of Commerce |
IAS Rajesh Agrawal Appointed As Secretary, Department of Commerce
IAS Rajesh Agrawal has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in New Delhi.
Rajesh Agarwal has replaced IAS Sunil Barthwal whose term ended on 30 September 2025 and he retired. Barthwal is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officer of Bihar Cadre. Sunil Barthwal was assumed charge as Secretary, Department of Commerce in New Delhi on September 30, 2022.
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IAS Rajesh Agarwal took over the appointment of new Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in New Delhi with effect from 1st October 2025.
Before being appointed Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Agarwal was overseeing India's trade negotiations with various countries under free trade agreements.
Rajesh Agrawal was the Chief Negotiator for the India–US Bilateral Trade Agreement, Indo-Pacific Economic Forum, India–Australia CECA, and review of the ASEAN FTA. He was also in charge of export promotion for the agriculture and allied sectors.
About Rajesh Agrawal
Rajesh Agrawal is a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Manipur cadre.
Agrawal is an accomplished administrator with three decades of experience in governance, policy making and implementation across diverse sectors including skilling, human resource development, apprenticeship, power, fertilizer, agriculture, and MSMEs.
He has been instrumental in shaping the country’s skill development policies, represented India at the World Skills Governing Council for three years, and steered sectoral reforms in states such as Manipur, Jharkhand, and Bihar.
Rajesh Agarwal served as Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Power in the Government of Manipur in 2022.
He also held the post of Chief Electoral Officer in Manipur. Agarwal was appointed Executive Director in India Trade Promotion Organisation(ITPO). He was appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship between 2015 and 2019.
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IAS Rajesh Agarwal has also served as Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Government of India.
Educational Life of Rajesh Agrawal
Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Rajesh Agarwal holds a Bachelor of Statistics and a Master of Operational Research degree from the Delhi University. He did Executive Post Graduate Diploma in International Trade from Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.
Static Current Affairs related to Ministry of Commerce and Industry for upcoming exams
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Cabinet Minister: Piyush Goyal
- Minister of State: Jitin Prasada
- Secretary: Rajesh Agarwal
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