The Dehradun-based Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) will, for the first time in its 38-year history, be headed by a woman officer. This was announced in an official statement issued by IGNFA on Tuesday.
Bharti, a 1992-batch Indian Forest Service officer from the Sikkim cadre, will become the first woman Director of the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy. She will assume office on October 1, 2025, succeeding the outgoing Director, Dr. Jagmohan Sharma, who is set to retire on September 30, 2025.
With her appointment, all four major central government institutions involved in forest research and development in the country—namely the Forest Research Institute (FRI), IGNFA, the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), and the Directorate of Forest Education (DFE)—will be headed by women officers.
Bharti is currently serving as Principal Secretary, Development and Coordination, in the Government of Sikkim.
IGNFA is the premier central government institution responsible for training Indian Forest Service officers from across the country. It was originally established as the Indian Forest College in 1938 during the British era and was renamed IGNFA in 1987.