The Last Time the New Higher Education Secretary Was in the News
New Delhi: As the government of India appoints Animal Husbandry and Dairy Secretary, Naresh Pal Gangwar as the new Higher Education Secretary, attention has been drawn to the last time he was in the news.
An IAS officer of the 1994 batch from the Rajasthan cadre, his mother, wife and son were reported by the Indian Express as having collectively received over Rs 1.16 crore in government subsidies under the National Horticulture Board scheme for “encouraging commercial crops”, more specifically, the cultivation of cucumber.
His family is said to have received this amount over five years.
Union minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Bhagirath Choudhary, who is from Rajasthan, is the chairman of the National Horticulture Board, under which this subsidy scheme titled “Development of Commercial Horticulture through Production and Post-Harvest Management of Horticulture crops”, functions. The minister himself, is said to have secured Rs 99.6 lakh as “50%” subsidy just this year, under the scheme to promote “commercial farming”.
There was an uproar in Rajasthan as well as nationally over the Modi government minister receiving money from a scheme disbursed by his own ministry. The role of senior IAS officer, Naresh Gangwar also came into light. Gangwar had then told The Indian Express, that he had disclosed details of only one project approved under the scheme in the mandatory annual declaration of immovable property with the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) for 2021-22. Gangwar said that “service rules mandate that he declare only the large scale for profit.”
The subsidy is limited to a maximum of Rs 1 crore per family.
CPI(M) MP John Brittas raised the matter today on X saying, that “this was the PM’s way of ensuring accountability.” He writes, “The ultimate farce! While the nation demands accountability for exam scams & paper leaks, Govt appoints Naresh Pal Gangwar as the new Higher Education Secretary! This is the same IAS officer whose mother, wife & son collectively received over ₹1.16 crore in government subsidies under the National Horticulture Board scheme for “encouraging commercial crops” (cucumber cultivation).”
The ultimate farce! While the nation demands accountability for exam scams & paper leaks, Govt appoints Naresh Pal Gangwar as the new Higher Education Secretary!
This is the same IAS officer whose mother, wife & son collectively received over ₹1.16 crore in government subsidies… pic.twitter.com/Y24xc4VskZ— John Brittas (@JohnBrittas) July 24, 2026
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