Dr. Manjula N, I.A.S

I.A.S, Secretary, Electronics, ITBT and S&T, Government of Karnataka

Dr. N. Manjula, IAS (2002 batch) is a distinguished administrator known for pioneering leadership, inclusive governance, and results-driven public service. A qualified medical professional (MBBS) prior to joining the civil services, she brings a rare blend of scientific training and citizen-centric empathy to complex administrative responsibilities.
As Secretary to Government, Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology (El, IT, Bt & S&T), Government of Karnataka, Dr. Manjula provides strategic direction to the State’s technology-led growth agenda, strengthening innovation systems, enabling policy reforms, and accelerating outcomes across emerging technology domains.

Policy leadership and recent interventions

In her current role, Dr. Manjula has helped steer Karnataka’s next phase of startup- and innovation-led growth, strengthening the policy-and-program backbone that enables entrepreneurs, deep-tech talent, and industry collaboration at scale. Under her leadership, the Department has advanced a coherent portfolio of next-generation policies, including the Karnataka Startup Policy 2025–30, the Karnataka IT Policy 2025–2030, and the Karnataka Space Technology Policy 2025–2030, to sharpen Karnataka’s competitiveness across innovation, investment attraction, skilling, infrastructure creation and global market linkages. Complementing these policy reforms, the Department has also accelerated ecosystem execution through institutional platforms such as INNOVERSE innovation campus envisioned to bring together deep-tech startups, corporates, global R&D organisations and venture networks and allied initiatives announced through flagship forums to improve access to mentorship, investors and prototype-development infrastructure. Collectively, these interventions reflect a clear focus on making Karnataka’s innovation economy more outcome-oriented: reducing friction for startups, building deep-tech capability, and enabling technology adoption that translates into public value and sustainable economic development.
 
Career Overview

Dr. N. Manjula, IAS, has built a distinguished career across municipal governance, tourism development, higher education administration, and critical infrastructure, bringing a rare blend of people-centric administration and large-scale institutional leadership. She joined the Indian Administrative Service in 2002 and has since held a wide range of responsibilities that reflect both versatility and sustained impact.

Early in her career, she handled core field and district administration assignments, including serving as Assistant Commissioner, Hassan and later as Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Panchayat in Bengaluru (Rural) district and Mysore district. She subsequently served as Deputy Commissioner, Chikkaballapur District, where district-level leadership and coordination across departments formed the backbone of her administrative work.

Building on this foundation, she later served as Director, Tourism, where she led flagship initiatives to enhance Karnataka’s tourism brand and experiential offerings. Notably, she spearheaded promotional thrusts such as “Year of the Wild” (2017) and strengthened adventure and heritage-based tourism through initiatives like trekking, rock climbing, and fort trails, aimed at positioning Karnataka for stronger domestic and international visibility.

She also played a significant leadership role in the education sector as Commissioner, Collegiate Education Department, overseeing reforms and administration in a large and diverse higher education ecosystem across the state.
Her municipal and infrastructure leadership continued through strategic assignments including Commissioner, Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA), a role central to urban planning and development in the capital region.

In the infrastructure domain, Dr. Manjula served as Managing Director, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL), leading one of Karnataka’s most critical power sector institutions and strengthening the backbone of the state’s transmission network.
She previously served as Secretary, Infrastructure Development Department (IDD) with concurrent charge as Secretary, Kannada & Culture, a combination of roles at the intersection of infrastructure delivery and institutional coordination.
Currently, she is serving as Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology & Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka.
Across roles, ranging from municipal systems and district leadership to tourism promotion, education administration, and power transmission, Dr. N. Manjula, IAS, stands out for her ability to lead institutions, translate policy into outcomes, and deliver public value at scale.