Shri Anil Kumar Rathore is a 2020-batch Madhya Pradesh cadre Indian Administrative Service officer whose career has progressed from field and tribal administration to rural development and industrial growth. Born on July 15, 1993, and hailing from Morena in Madhya Pradesh, he joined the IAS on October 12, 2020. He is presently serving as Executive Director, Madhya Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (MPIDC), Regional Office, Jabalpur, a position officially confirmed by Invest MP.
Early Life and Academic Pursuits
Shri Rathore entered the Indian Administrative Service as a Direct Recruit of the 2020 batch, bringing with him a strong academic foundation and an early inclination towards public service. His formative assignments in Madhya Pradesh exposed him to revenue administration and the developmental realities of tribal regions, helping him build a practical understanding of grassroots governance, local institutions and citizen-oriented administration.
Professional Genesis and Ascendancy
Shri Rathore began his career as Assistant Collector, Vidisha, before serving as SDO (Revenue), Petlawad in Jhabua district. In September 2024, he became CEO, Zila Panchayat, Dindori, and a year later moved to MPIDC’s Jabalpur Regional Office, marking a transition from grassroots development to investment and industrial administration.
Administrative Tenure: Tribal Development and Rural Assets
His Dindori tenure combined field monitoring with attention to water conservation, environmental works and timely implementation of Panchayat projects. The assignment gave him direct experience in a predominantly tribal district where rural infrastructure and natural-resource management are closely connected.
Water Conservation and Rural Assets
Under the Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan, Shri Rathore inspected MGNREGA-supported ponds at Jhilmila and Amarpur and reviewed their functionality and water-management requirements. Watershed projects elsewhere in the district also linked water assets with fisheries-based livelihoods, illustrating how conservation infrastructure could support local incomes.
Narmada Landscape and Environmental Development
During his tenure, planning advanced for shelter facilities along identified stretches of the Narmada Parikrama route together with plantation and protection work at river-origin sites. The initiative brought together environmental restoration, water-source protection and infrastructure for pilgrims travelling through the region.
Administrative Accountability
Shri Rathore also chaired time-bound reviews of departmental schemes and construction works, directing officials to complete priority projects within stipulated deadlines. This emphasis on regular monitoring strengthened accountability across rural-development programmes and Panchayat-level implementation.
Industrial Development and Investment Facilitation
In September 2025, Shri Rathore was appointed Executive Director, MPIDC Regional Office, Jabalpur, bringing his field experience into Madhya Pradesh’s industrial-development framework. His present responsibilities involve investment facilitation, industrial infrastructure and engagement with businesses across the Mahakaushal region.
Ease of Doing Business
At a CII–MPIDC industry consultation in Katni in May 2026, Shri Rathore engaged with businesses on issues including power disruptions, subsidy delays, industrial land, skilled manpower, mineral-sector licensing and fire NOCs. A follow-up meeting in June continued work on operational bottlenecks affecting local industries.
Green Industrial Infrastructure
His current role has also included engagement with the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) on integrating green-building principles into MPIDC projects. A February 2026 consultation focused on advancing a greener built environment across Madhya Pradesh’s industrial infrastructure.
Other Notable Achievements
- In-Charge Collector, Seoni: While serving with MPIDC, Shri Rathore was entrusted with temporary charge as Prabhari Collector of Seoni in May 2026, adding district-level responsibility to his industrial role.
- Inter-Se Seniority: In the Government of India’s inter-se seniority list for 2020-batch IAS probationers, he was placed third among the Madhya Pradesh cadre officers of his batch.
- Industry Outreach: His MPIDC responsibilities have extended beyond regional consultations to engagement with industry clusters on investment opportunities and industrial expansion in Madhya Pradesh.
A Visionary Outlook
Shri Anil Kumar Rathore’s career reflects a progression from grassroots development to wider economic administration. Experience in tribal and rural regions has given him an understanding of local infrastructure and livelihoods, while his MPIDC assignment now places him within the broader challenge of attracting investment and developing sustainable industrial infrastructure.
Why is he one of the ‘Stars of MP’?
Shri Anil Kumar Rathore stands out for bridging grassroots development with regional economic growth. His field experience in Dindori brought him close to water security, environmental assets and rural institutions, while his present responsibilities connect him with industrial investment and infrastructure.
This ability to understand development from both the village and investment perspectives, supported by experience across district and industrial administration, gives Shri Anil Kumar Rathore a distinctive place among the ‘Stars of MP’.
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