Dr. Anup Wadhawan is a distinguished public-policy expert, economist, and former senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who served as Commerce Secretary to the Government of India, the apex bureaucratic role in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, until his retirement in June 2021 after a 36-year career in public service. As Commerce Secretary, he was responsible for India’s foreign trade policy, export promotion, and global trade negotiations, shaping strategic frameworks that supported export growth, market diversification, and improved ease of doing business for Indian enterprises on the global stage.

Dr. Wadhawan’s career is marked by deep engagement with both economic policy and international trade diplomacy. Before becoming Commerce Secretary in 2018, he held several senior positions in the Government of India, including Director General of Foreign Trade, Joint/Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Joint/Additional Secretary in the Department of Financial Services, and Joint Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs. He also served as a director in the Prime Minister’s Office, influencing policy across sectors including capital markets, banking, insurance, and pensions.

An alumnus of Hindu College, University of Delhi, Dr. Wadhawan earned his MA in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics and a Ph.D. in Economics from Duke University (USA), where his research focused on macroeconomic structural dynamics—academic depth that reinforced his ability to align economic theory with practical governance and global trade strategy.

Beyond his government service, Dr. Wadhawan has held influential roles in the private and advisory sectors. He serves as an independent director on several corporate boards, including insurance and financial services companies, and contributes to thought leadership on economic policy, financial inclusion, and global trade. He has also been invited as a speaker and panelist at industry forums and international conferences, bringing insights from his extensive experience in trade policy and economic governance.

Dr. Wadhawan’s contributions to India’s economic and trade architecture reflect a rare blend of policy acumen, administrative leadership, and global perspective, positioning him as a respected voice in public policy, trade negotiations, and economic development discourse.