Bio Data of Secretary General

Shri Bharat Lal
Shri Bharat Lal
Secretary General
91-11-24663211, 91-11-24663212 (O), E-mail: bharat.lal@gov.in

Mr. Bharat Lal, a former civil servant with over three and a half decades of distinguished public service, is the Secretary General and CEO of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India. His career has been defined by pioneering initiatives in good governance, human rights, public service delivery, environmentalconservation, and sustainable development, making impactful contributions to improving quality of lives and dignity, and ensuring protection of the marginalized and vulnerable communities, including women and tribal populations.

Before assuming his role at the NHRC in July 2023, Mr. Lal served as the Director General of the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG),an apex level institution of the Government of India, where he led several initiatives on public policy and good governance. Earlier, as Secretary to the Lokpal of India, he contributed in strengthening anti-corruption frameworks in the country. His tenure as the founding Mission Director of the Jal Jeevan Mission was transformative, ensuring access to clean tap water for over 194 million rural households, schools and day care centres (AWCs), empowering local communities, particularly women’s roles in water and sanitation, and development of local public water utilities.Prior to Jal Jeevan Mission, he has also served as Additional Secretary to the then President of India.

Mr. Lal’s visionary approach to governance is exemplified by initiatives such as the Chiranjeevi Yojana, which addressed maternal health challenges by ensuring institutional delivery for women. Similarly, the Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana significantly improved the quality of life for tribal communities, while the establishment of over 1,200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools provided educational opportunities for tribal children. In Gujarat, post -earthquake of 2001. He was instrumental in setting up of the Water and Sanitation Management Organization (WASMO), a globally recognized initiative that empowered communities, especially women, to manage local water supply systems. WASMO’s success earned accolades, including the United Nations Public Service Award and the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management Award.

Beyond developmental work, Mr. Lal has been deeply involved in policymaking, investment promotion, and diplomacy, drawing on his extensive experience working with the India’s top leadership. As a key member of Covid-19 pandemic management team, he made meaningful contributions to saving lives and livelihood.

Known for his ‘out-of-the-box’ solutions and forward-thinking, Mr. Bharat Lal has advanced good governance, digital transformation, and public grievance redressal mechanisms. His dedication to safeguarding human rights and fostering equitable socio-economic development, positions him as a transformative leader committed to building a just and inclusive society.