Ajay Bhadoo, a seasoned bureaucrat from the 1999 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Gujarat cadre, has been given additional responsibility as the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) for three months. The official appointment comes as Bhadoo continues to serve as Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, a role he has held since August 2024.
With over two decades of extensive administrative experience, Ajay Bhadoo has built a distinguished career across diverse sectors, notably urban governance, infrastructure, and public administration. His latest appointment as DGFT is seen as a testament to his proven capabilities and leadership within the administrative machinery.
Before his current assignment in the Department of Commerce, Bhadoo held several high-profile positions at both the state and national levels. Notably, he served as Deputy Election Commissioner at the Election Commission of India, where he played a crucial role in overseeing electoral processes across the country. In addition, he was appointed as Joint Secretary to the former President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, further demonstrating his trusted standing within the government.
In Gujarat, Bhadoo contributed significantly to state-level governance. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Gujarat Maritime Board, an important body regulating port and maritime activities in the state. His tenure also included key leadership roles as Commissioner of the Rajkot and Vadodara Municipal Corporations, where he was instrumental in driving major urban development initiatives.
Bhadoo is an engineer with academic training and holds a degree in civil engineering. He later augmented his technical expertise with a Master’s degree in Business Law from the prestigious National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru. This combination of technical proficiency and legal knowledge has equipped him with a well-rounded perspective, enabling him to effectively manage complex administrative and policy matters.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. As the country’s principal agency responsible for regulating and promoting India’s international trade, the DGFT formulates and implements the Foreign Trade Policy, providing crucial support to exporters and traders. The organisation plays a pivotal role in enhancing India’s global trade engagements and ensuring that trade policies are aligned with national economic priorities.
Bhadoo’s appointment to this critical position comes at a time when India is actively working to expand its export base, diversify trade partnerships, and bolster economic resilience amid evolving global dynamics. His leadership is expected to bring continued stability and strategic direction to the DGFT during this interim period.