New Delhi: Bharat Khera assumed charge as Secretary in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, taking over a key role in strengthening the MSME sector.
A 1995-batch IAS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, Khera brings over three decades of administrative experience. He previously served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs.
During his tenure with the Union government, he worked as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence for more than five years. He handled Indian Air Force matters and coordinated national events, including Republic Day celebrations from 2017 to 2020. In addition, he oversaw issues related to the Border Roads Organisation and international defence cooperation.
He also served in the Department of Defence Production, where he was part of the boards of major public sector shipbuilding companies. His role contributed to defence infrastructure development and supported the Make in India initiative.
Bharat Khera MSME role backed by extensive experience
Khera later worked in the Cabinet Secretariat, handling Commerce, Industry and Technology verticals. He contributed to policy decisions during the Covid-19 pandemic, supporting strategic governance efforts.
An Electronics Engineer from BITS Pilani, he holds a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University. He also completed an Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy from the Indian School of Business and was a Chevening Gurukul Fellow at the London School of Economics.
In Himachal Pradesh, he held key posts such as Home Secretary and Principal Secretary in departments including Public Works, Power and Information. He also served as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and led major state corporations earlier in his career.
The MSME sector contributes over 30 per cent to India’s GDP and plays a vital role in employment and exports. Khera said he would focus on strengthening the sector and advancing its contribution to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
