Sumita Misra


Sumita Misra is an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1990 batch, currently serving as Home Secretary of Haryana since December 2024. In July 2025, she was appointed the state's nodal officer for the 2007 Census, coordinating efforts across government departments.
As of December 2024, she is serving as an additional Chief Secretary in the departments of home, jails, criminal investigation, and administration of justice under the Government of Haryana.
In May 2025, Misra announced a major update to Haryana’s civil defence system. The plan included new volunteer registration drives and mapping of important infrastructure to improve disaster preparedness.

Early life and education

Sumita Misra was born on January 30, 1967 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. She studied at Loreto Convent and La Martiniere College, completing undergraduate degrees in Economics and Mathematics. In 2015, she earned a Ph.D. in Economics from Kurukshetra University.
Misra attended executive programs in public policy and administration at Harvard University, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, the Royal Institute of Public Administration in London, the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, and the University of Cambridge.

Career

Misra joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1990. She has served in Haryana as Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Deputy Commissioner, Administrator at the Haryana Urban Development Authority and as Additional Chief Secretary to the Government Of Haryana.
From 2018 to 2021, Misra served as Senior Advisor in the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, where she worked on the circular economy and blue economy.
As Director of Renewable Energy, Haryana, she contributed to the implementation of the 2005 Renewable Energy Power Policy, which promoted investment from independent producers totaling approximately ₹5,000 crore.

Surajkund International Crafts Mela

Misra served as Managing Director of the Surajkund Mela Authority from 2013 to 2016, overseeing the 28th, 29th, and 30th editions of the Surajkund International Crafts Mela. In 2016, the fair saw participation from 23 countries and attracted approximately 1.5 million visitors.

Agriculture and Horticulture

As Additional Chief Secretary for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare from 2021 to 2023, Misra supported initiatives in crop diversification, promoted natural farming practices, managed crop residue, and encouraged the adoption of Direct Seeded Rice. She also contributed to the launch of the Mukhyamantri Bagwani Bima Yojana and the Haryana Beekeeping Policy in 2021–22.

Creche policy

In 2023, she was involved in the implementation of a childcare policy, making Haryana the first state in India to introduce a formal creche policy, mandating all organizations of a certain size to provide childcare centers for their employees.

Chandigarh Literary Society

Misra founded the Chandigarh Literary Society and serves as the Festival Director of the annual Chandigarh LitFest, launched in 2013 at the Lake Club, Sukhna Lake.

Notable works

  • A Life of Light - 2012
  • Zara Si Dhoop - 2013
  • Waqt Ke Ujale Mein - 2016
  • Petrichor - 2017
  • Lamhou Ki Shabnam - 2022

    Awards

YearAwardPresented byDescriptionRef
2014–15Best Destination Stewardship AwardWTTCI and HVSFor contributions to sustainable tourism and destination planning.
2024Award of RecognitionChandigarh Sahitya AkademiFor contributions to literature and public service.
2022State-Level Flagship AwardGovernment of HaryanaFor leading implementation of the "Meri Fasal Mera Byora" agricultural portal.
2021–22Agriculture Leadership AwardAgriculture Today GroupFor contributions to the horticulture sector.
2016–17Best Book in Hindi PoetryChandigarh Sahitya AkademiFor her poetry collection Waqt Ke Ujale Mein.