SKM
Indian Administrative Service Officer

S. K. Misra

· verify

Served as Principal Secretary to three Haryana chief ministers and to Prime Minister Chandra Sekhar.

S. K. Misra is a retired Indian civil servant, social worker, writer and a former Principal Secretary to Chandra Sekhar, the 8th Prime Minister of India. He served as the principal secretary to three chief ministers of Haryana and is a former secretary at the ministries of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Agriculture.

✨

A detail that
surprised us

“

S. K. Misra was a founding member of the Motilal Nehru School of Sports in Rai, an institution dedicated to integrating sports and education, established during his administrative tenure in Haryana.

The Story

1
In 1956, S. K. Misra joined the Indian Administrative Service, beginning with a posting in the Patiala and East Punjab States Union, a region then undergoing political integration.
2
🌾 Between 1968 and 1975, Misra was principal secretary to Bansi Lal, the Chief Minister of Haryana, during which time he played a role in establishing agricultural universities in Ludhiana and Hisar.
3✈️ Misra later served as secretary in the Union ministries of Tourism, Civil Aviation, and Agriculture, navigating complex national policies during the 1980s.
4From 1990 to his retirement, he was principal secretary to Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, a period marked by political instability and crucial administrative decisions.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

In 2009, the Government of India awarded S. K. Misra the Padma Bhushan, the nation’s third highest civilian honor, recognizing his civil service contributions decades after his administrative career peaked.

📸 Through the Years

📷

No photos yet

Help preserve history — add a photo of this icon

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Uttar Pradesh
S. K. Misra was born in 1932 in Uttar Pradesh, India, setting the geographical and cultural context for his later work.
1932
⚡
Career
Joined Indian Administrative Service
Misra began his civil service career in 1956 with a posting in Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU).
1956
⚡
Career
Principal Secretary to Haryana CM
Appointed principal secretary to Bansi Lal, Chief Minister of Haryana, a role held until 1975 during critical state development.
1968
⚡
Career
Returned as Principal Secretary in Haryana
Served as principal secretary to Bhajan Lal, another Haryana Chief Minister, from 1979 to 1985.
1979
⚡
Career
Principal Secretary to Prime Minister
Appointed principal secretary to Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar in 1990, serving until superannuation.
1990
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan
Received the Padma Bhushan in 2009 for distinguished service in Indian civil administration.
2009
🌟
Other
Founded Indian Trust for Rural Heritage
Established the Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development, focusing on rural education and heritage in Uttar Pradesh.
2011
More moments to come...
+ Add a moment

🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Misra held the principal secretary position for three different Haryana chief ministers across nearly two decades, a rare continuity in a politically volatile state from 1968 to 1987.

02 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

After retiring from civil service, Misra managed the Festival of India cultural showcases in four major countries, including the erstwhile Soviet Union and Japan, highlighting India’s soft power during the 1990s.

03 / 04
💡SURPRISING

The Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development, founded by Misra in 2011, operates a village school in Hariharpur, Uttar Pradesh, in partnership with the Lutyens Trust, UK, linking rural education with international heritage efforts.

No quote recorded for S. K. Misra yet.

🌱 What changed because of them

Misra’s tenure as principal secretary to three Haryana chief ministers helped establish key agricultural universities and the National Institute of Fashion Technology, institutions that continue to influence education and industry in India. His leadership roles in INTACH and the founding of the Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development have fostered heritage preservation and rural education, notably through village schools in Uttar Pradesh, bridging cultural conservation with grassroots development.

💬 Social Buzz

💬

What are people saying about S. K. Misra?

Share posts from historians, journalists and notable voices about this icon. 🇮🇳

💭 Memories & Tributes

Share your memory of S. K. Misra...
Loading memories...
Is this profile accurate?