Ms. Manmeet Kaur Nanda is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 2000 West Bengal cadre, with extensive experience in public administration, governance, economic development, industry and social sector policy at the state and national levels.

She currently serves as Additional Secretary in the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India. In this role, she oversees key programmes and initiatives including the Accessible India Campaign, the Scheme for Implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (SIPDA), the scheme for assistance to persons with disabilities for the purchase and fitting of aids and appliances, National Institutes under DEPwD, and scholarship programmes for persons with disabilities.

Her portfolio encompasses several important areas of disability inclusion, including improving accessibility, strengthening implementation of disability rights legislation, facilitating access to assistive devices, and supporting educational opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Prior to joining DEPwD, Ms. Nanda held senior positions in both the Government of India and the Government of West Bengal. At the central level, she served as Joint Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and as Joint Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat.

In the Government of West Bengal, she served as Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Secretary, Commerce & Industries Department, handling major areas of public policy and administration.

Ms. Nanda has been recognised for excellence in public administration and governance. Her awards include the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration (2016), recognition for an Effective Initiative under MGNREGA (2016), and the Best Electoral Practices Award in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

She holds a BA Honours in Economics from Punjab University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management from FORE School of Management.

With more than two decades of experience across governance, public policy and administration, Ms. Nanda brings significant institutional and policy expertise to her present role, particularly in advancing accessibility, implementation of disability rights, assistive support and inclusive opportunities for persons with disabilities.