Lav Agarwal, an IAS officer who became the face of the Indian government during the coronavirus pandemic, became a household name in India for his calm and humble response to inquiring journalists at the PIB National Media Centre.
Wiki/Biography
Lav Agarwal was born on Saturday, February 19, 1972 (48 years old in 2020) in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He was a good student since childhood and after completing his schooling, he joined the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi in 1989 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. In 1993, he graduated from IIT Delhi and started preparing for the civil services exam. In 1996, he cleared the UPSC exam and became an IAS officer.
appearance
Height (approximate): 5′ 7″
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Black
Family and caste
Lav Agarwal belongs to the Hindu Bania community.
Parents and siblings
Lav Agarwal’s father KG Agarwal is a senior chartered accountant from Sharanpur and has been practicing accounting in Saharanpur for more than 45 years. There is not much information about his mother and siblings.
Lav Agarwal’s parents
Relationships, Wife and Children
Lav Agarwal is married and there is not much information available about his wife and children.
Lav Agarwal and his wife
Lav Agarwal and his family
Profession
Lav Agarwal is an Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS officer of 1996 batch. He started as Assistant Collector in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh and later served in different posts in the Andhra Pradesh government like Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Collector and DM (West Godavari), Collector and DM (Visakhapatnam) and Commissioner/Director (Andhra Pradesh Disaster Management). Thereafter, he was posted as Joint Secretary, M/o Health & Family Welfare D/o Health & Family Welfare at the Centre for a period of five years (from 29 August 2016 to 28 August 2021).
New Joint Collector Girija Shankar (left) greets Collector Lav Agarwal in Visakhapatnam
Professional Name
- June 20, 1997 – June 1, 1998: Assistant Collector, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh
- August 1, 1998 – June 21, 2000: Assistant Collector, Bhadrachalam District, Andhra Pradesh
- 22 June 2000 – 8 July 2002: Project Director (Rural Development), Medak District, Andhra Pradesh
- July 8, 2002 – July 15, 2003: Collector of Medak, Andhra Pradesh
- July 16, 2003 – November 9, 2003: Jt Collector, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh
- 10 November 2003 – 15 June 2004: Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Andhra Pradesh Election Commission
- 15 June 2004 – 31 December 2004: Deputy Secretary, Office of the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
- 1 January 2005 to 26 May 2005: Joint Secretary, Office of the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
- May 26, 2005 – May 29, 2007: Collector and DM, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh
- May 29, 2007 – March 23, 2008: Chairman and Managing Director, Eastern Electricity Distribution Company Limited (EPDCL), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
- March 23, 2008 – June 14, 2011: Director General, Education Department, Andhra Pradesh
- June 14, 2011 – September 25, 2012: Collector and DM, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
- September 25, 2012 – January 18, 2015: Minister of Youth Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Andhra Pradesh
- 18 January 2015 – 21 February 2016: Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare, Andhra Pradesh
- 18 January 2015 – 21 February 2016: CEO, Arogya Sri Healthcare Trust (Health and Family Welfare), Andhra Pradesh
- May 27, 2016 – August 22, 2016: Director General, Department of Revenue and Disaster Management, Andhra Pradesh
- 27 May 2016 – 29 August 2016: Director General/Director, Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority
- 29 August 2016 to 28 August 2021: Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
salary
Lav Agarwal is posted as Joint Secretary of M/o Health & Family Welfare with a salary of Rs 218,200.
Facts/Trivia
- Lav Agarwal is considered a quiet civil servant, known for his proactive yet humble communication strategy.
- In February 2019, he hosted delegates and participants of the 4th Global Digital Health Partnership Summit in New Delhi.
Lav Agarwal thanks delegates and participants of the 4th GDHP Summit in New Delhi
- He represented India at many international health forums, including the U.S.-India Health Dialogue in March 2019, focusing on infectious diseases, biomedical research, and new health technologies.
Lav Agarwal attends US-India Health Dialogue
- During the nationwide lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he appeared on TV screens every day to update the nation on the COVID-19 situation, infection rates, protective equipment and testing rates. It was like a prime-time show in India.
Lav Agarwal and other Indian government officials briefed on the COVID-19 outbreak at the National Media Center
- According to sources close to him, during the biggest health emergency faced by the world in decades, Lav Agarwal was entrusted by the Modi government to serve as the government’s spokesperson to inform the country about the COVID-19 outbreak. He worked 15-16 hours a day and spared no effort; however, for Lav Agarwal, it was just like an ordinary day in the office. One of his colleagues said in explaining his hard work –
These days he only goes home for a few naps. He always stays in the office late and is usually one of the first people there in the morning.”
- To stay healthy, he does a lot of exercise and yoga.
- His daily appearances on television have made him famous, and when asked what he thought of becoming a celebrity civil servant overnight, he said,
I insist that you don’t write about me. I don’t want to be in any news at all. I’m just doing my job and attending press conferences is part of my job responsibilities. If you want to write about it, please write about the health workers who are working on the front line, who are risking everything and doing a hard job.”
- In his spare time, Lav Agarwal enjoys photography.
Embedded from Getty Images
- Lav Agarwal’s father KG Agarwal said about his son who has become famous –
He kept telling me he was just doing his job… All the media attention was unjustified.”
- Some of his colleagues said that at first, he might seem difficult to approach and hard to please, but if anyone works with him, they will know how funny and logical he is. One of his subordinates said:
He needs time to trust people, but he is passionate, committed to winning and very goal-oriented.”
Lav Agarwal interacting with one of his colleagues
- Retired bureaucrat Anil Swarup said of his latest duties as spokesperson for the health ministry:
I have watched a few briefings so far and I would like to say that for a mid-level bureaucrat, Agarwal has shown remarkable maturity in handling this situation. I am glad that the government has entrusted such an intelligent bureaucrat with such an important responsibility.”
- Speaking about Lav Agarwal, a colleague in the Ministry of Health said:
Every crisis has a hero, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made Love one of them.”
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education