Shri Abhishek Saraf is a 2020-batch Madhya Pradesh cadre Indian Administrative Service officer whose career combines academic distinction with strong field experience. Born on August 17, 1991, and hailing from Bhopal, he joined the IAS on October 12, 2020. After serving as CEO, Zila Panchayat, Balaghat, he was appointed Additional Commissioner, Urban Administration and Development, Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal in August 2026.
Early Life and Academic Pursuits
Raised in Bhopal, Shri Saraf pursued B.Tech. in Civil Engineering from IIT Kanpur. After an earlier selection to the Indian Revenue Service, he continued his Civil Services preparation and secured All India Rank 8 in UPSC CSE 2019, emerging as the highest-ranked candidate from Madhya Pradesh that year. His engineering education and interest in education and skill development provided a strong analytical foundation for public administration.
Professional Genesis and Ascendancy
Shri Saraf began his IAS career as Assistant Collector, Chhindwara, followed by service as Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue), Sendhwa in Barwani district, where he gained experience in revenue and electoral administration in a tribal region. In September 2024, he took charge as CEO, Zila Panchayat, Balaghat, expanding his responsibilities into health, rural development, agriculture and panchayat governance.
Administrative Tenure: Rural Development and Citizen-Centric Delivery
His Balaghat tenure was marked by coordinated implementation of programmes with measurable district-level outcomes.
Health Outreach and Ayushman Bharat
Under the special Ayushman Card campaign, Balaghat generated 1,07,054 cards against a target of 1,31,468 by July 2025, achieving around 81 percent coverage and first position in Madhya Pradesh. The campaign brought together health, rural-development and women-and-child-development teams to improve beneficiary coverage across rural areas.
Water Conservation and Community Participation
Under the Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan, Balaghat undertook extensive water-conservation and rejuvenation works. The district reportedly secured 87.56 points and third position in the state, along with three recognitions, reflecting sustained attention to water security and community participation.
Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Support
Shri Saraf regularly reviewed development works in remote areas, including District Mineral Foundation-funded ponds and school infrastructure in Birsa block, with emphasis on timely completion. As chair of the ATMA Governing Board, he was also associated with agricultural-extension initiatives and discussions around improved and climate-responsive farming practices.
Transition to Urban Administration
His appointment as Additional Commissioner, Urban Administration and Development in August 2026 marked a shift from rural institutions to state-level municipal governance. His civil-engineering background and field experience provide a relevant foundation for responsibilities involving infrastructure, planning and urban service delivery.
Other Notable Achievements
- State-Leading Ayushman Campaign: Balaghat secured first position in Madhya Pradesh during the 2025 special card-generation drive.
- Recognised Water-Conservation Performance: Balaghat ranked among the state’s leading districts under the Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan.
- Experience across Tribal, Rural and Urban Administration: His assignments have provided exposure to distinctly different development settings.
A Visionary Outlook
Shri Abhishek Saraf’s career reflects the evolution of an academically accomplished engineer into a field-oriented administrator. His work in Balaghat demonstrated the importance of coordinated delivery in health, water security and rural infrastructure, while his present urban-development assignment opens a broader platform for applying that experience to Madhya Pradesh’s growing towns and cities.
Why is he one of the ‘Stars of MP’?
Shri Abhishek Saraf stands out for combining academic excellence with measurable administrative outcomes. His contribution to Balaghat’s strong performance in health outreach and water conservation shows an ability to convert planning into visible results.
Now bringing that experience into urban administration, he represents a promising blend of engineering insight, field responsiveness and development-focused leadership—qualities that make him one of the ‘Stars of MP’.
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