Rahul Bhanudas Mali, a 2016-batch IAS officer of the Nagaland cadre, has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India. His appointment under the Central Staffing Scheme is for a period of four years, commencing August 2025.
An officer known for his versatility and commitment to inclusive governance, Shri Mali brings a decade of wide-ranging administrative experience across district administration, finance, home affairs, and tribal development. A native of Maharashtra, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Production Engineering from Shivaji University, Kolhapur, and a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi—combining technical knowledge with a strong foundation in governance and policy studies.
Following his training at LBSNAA, Mussoorie, Shri Mali began his administrative career in Nagaland, serving in various key roles such as Assistant Collector, SDO (Civil), and Sub-Divisional Magistrate in districts like Dimapur and Mon. His on-ground leadership in challenging terrains helped strengthen public service delivery and deepen administrative outreach in the North-East.
He subsequently held the post of Joint Secretary (Finance & Economic Affairs) in the Chief Secretary’s Office, Kohima, and later served as Additional Deputy Commissioner, where he oversaw financial planning, budgeting, and district-level coordination. As Deputy Commissioner of Zunheboto from 2022 to 2025, Shri Mali led critical initiatives around elections, welfare programmes, law and order, and public grievance redressal.
Earlier in his career, he also served briefly as Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, providing him valuable insight into policymaking at the national level and Centre-State coordination.
In his new role at the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Shri Mali is expected to contribute to national programmes focused on child welfare, gender equity, and social protection. His grassroots administrative background and cross-sectoral governance experience are anticipated to add significant value to the Ministry’s mission of empowering women and ensuring child welfare.
Shri Mali is widely respected for his people-first approach, effective decision-making, and capacity to handle diverse and complex governance challenges—qualities that will serve him well in his new central assignment.
