The Government of India has appointed Arti Kanwar, an IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre (2001 batch), as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Textiles. She succeeds Rohit Kansal, IAS (AGMUT cadre, 1995), who has assumed charge as Secretary in the Department of Rural Development under the Ministry of Rural Development.
Kanwar’s appointment comes at a critical juncture as the government intensifies its focus on modernisation, sustainability and export growth within the textile sector. In her new role, she is expected to contribute to policy execution aimed at strengthening India’s textile value chain, enhancing global competitiveness and supporting employment generation across the industry.
An officer with over two decades of administrative experience, Kanwar has held several key positions in both the Government of Gujarat and the Government of India. She is currently serving as Chief Commissioner of State Tax in Gujarat, a role she assumed in January 2026, and has also been serving as Secretary, Economic Affairs in the state since June 2023.
Her previous assignments include Special Commissioner of Commercial Tax in Gujarat, Deputy Jute Commissioner in the Ministry of Textiles, State Project Director for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in Gujarat, and District Collector of Bharuch. Her tenure across these roles has involved fiscal administration, policy implementation and sectoral governance, equipping her with a diverse administrative background.
In a related development, the Ministry of Textiles has shifted to its new headquarters at the General Pool Office Accommodation (GPO ‘A’) complex in Netaji Nagar. The relocation is part of a broader effort to modernise government infrastructure and improve administrative efficiency.
Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh stated that the new office complex, equipped with modern facilities, is expected to enhance public service delivery and enable more effective, transparent and accessible governance. He added that robust infrastructure, combined with a committed work culture, would support the Ministry in delivering improved services and policy outcomes.
