Himachal’s Tarun Shridhar to Lead Drafting of National Veterinary Commission Bill

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again turned to Himachal Pradesh’s talent pool, entrusting retired IAS officer Dr. Tarun Shridhar with a crucial national responsibility. Known for his sharp administrative acumen and deep involvement in agriculture and animal husbandry, Dr. Shridhar will now chair the committee tasked with drafting the National Veterinary Commission Bill.

• The new Commission is set to replace the existing Veterinary Council of India, reshaping veterinary governance in the country.
• Dr. Shridhar’s appointment reflects the Centre’s confidence in his track record—he earlier served as Secretary in the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, where he spearheaded initiatives like building a national livestock database.
• His working style and commitment reportedly impressed PM Modi, paving the way for this new role.

• An official memorandum has already been issued by the ministry.
• The committee will include one member-secretary and seven other members, with Dr. Shridhar at the helm.
• He has expressed gratitude to the government, promising to live up to the expectations tied to this responsibility.

Himachal’s strong presence in Delhi

Dr. Shridhar is not the only Himachal cadre officer making waves at the national level:

• Tarun Kapoor, an expert in solar energy, serves as Advisor in the PMO.
• Subhashish Panda is Additional Secretary in the PMO.
• Ajay Mittal and Ajay Tyagi have held top positions in the Personnel Ministry and SEBI respectively.
• Beyond bureaucracy, Himachal’s medical stalwarts like Dr. Randeep Guleria (AIIMS), Dr. Raj Bahadur (PGI), and Dr. Vinod Paul (NITI Aayog) have also been entrusted with leadership roles.

A legacy of service

Dr. Shridhar, a 1984 batch IAS officer, retired as Secretary of Animal Husbandry before serving as a member of the Central Administrative Tribunal in Kolkata. His career reflects a blend of administrative leadership and intellectual contribution—he has written extensively on agriculture and animal husbandry.

With his new role, Himachal’s imprint on national policymaking grows stronger, and the veterinary sector is set to benefit from his experience and vision.