Secretary, Ministry of Culture
Vivek Aggarwal (IAS)
Vivek Aggarwal is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1994 batch, belonging to the Madhya Pradesh cadre. As of 2025, he serves as the Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Culture.
learn moreCareer Highlights
Vivek Aggarwal has held several key positions in the Government of India, Government of Punjab and the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
In April 2025, he was appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Culture. Prior to this, he served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, where he also held the additional responsibility of Director, Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND).
Earlier, he served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and as Joint Secretary in the same department.
Vivek Aggarwal (IAS)
Secretary, Ministry of Culture
Blog / Articles
64th National Exhibition of Art: The joy of steering & experiencing artistic aspirations metamorphosing to a cultural movement
“I am seeking. I am striving. I am in it with all my heart.” Vincent Van Gogh There are moments in public service when you sense the pulse of the nation not through policy documents, speeches, or review meetings, but through the powerful language of imagination and creativity. Walking through the galleries of the prestigious […]
Safeguarding Living Heritage: India’s Leadership at the 20th Session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee
The Intergovernmental Committee and the Imperative of Safeguarding Intangible Heritage As Secretary to the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, it has been an honour to steer India’s engagement with the representatives of the global community during the UNESCO’s 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in […]
The Piprahwa Repatriation: How India Halted an Auction in Hong Kong and Brought the Sacred Buddha Relics Home
In April 2025, the Ministry of Culture learned that gem relics from Piprahwa, part of the sacred Piprahwa relics, were being auctioned by Sotheby’s Hong Kong. Around the same time, a grievance filed on the PMRP Portal by Prof. Naman Ahuja highlighted the urgency of stopping the auction and repatriating these sacred objects. Multiple media […]
