An able administrator, Shri Avani Vaish was born on April 4,1952 in Rajasthan. He received his early education from Saint Javier School in Jaipur and then higher education from Saint Stephen College, New Delhi and Rajasthan University, Jaipur. He is a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts (History). He obtained a master's degree in Economics in Development Administration and Management from Manchester (U.K.) in 1993. Shri Vaish joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1975. Having a special interest in wildlife and environment conservation, Shri Vaish is well versed in Hindi, English and Urdu. Shri Avani Vaish was given super time scale in 1992. Shri Vaish received the scale of Principal Secretary in year 2002 and that of Chief Secretary in year 2009.

Shri Avani Vaish served in various capacities in Madhya Pradesh and Central Government as IAS officer. He was Assistant Collector, Sagar from July 19, 1975 to March 28, 1977, S.D.O., Badwani till October 13, 1978, S.D.O., Sironj, from October 24, 1978 to October 6, 1979 and had a brief stint as Collector Vidisha. He was Plan Administrator, Barna Halali, CADA Project from October 11, 1979 to June 30, 1981 and Additional Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Madhya Pradesh from June 30, 1981 to June 26, 1982. Shri Vaish was Collector Shajapur form July 6, 1982 to April 8, 1983.

Shri Avani Vaish was posted as Deputy Secretary, Housing and Environment on April 18, 1983 and was also assigned the responsibility of Executive Director, EPCO. He was posted Managing Director of Fisheries Development Corporation on June 13, 1986 and was also Special Secretary of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Department.

Shri Avani Vaish was on deputation in Government of India from January 5, 1988 to June 30, 1989 and was Deputy Secretary in the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment. Subsequently, he was appointed the Director, Environment and Forests on July 1, 1989. He served on this post till January 4, 1993. On return from deputation, Shri Avani Vaish was posted as Commissioner, M.P. Housing Board, on February 4, 1993. Later, he was posted as Secretary, Housing and Environment, Director General, EPCO and Secretary, Manpower Planning Department on October 17, 1994. He was also given the responsibility of MPCOST on January 16, 1995. He held these responsibilities till March 23,, 1996.

Shri Vaish was on deputation in Washington (USA) as PDF Coordinator in JEF of the World Bank from March 1996 to October 2003. After returning from there, Shri Vaish was posted as Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Environment Department and also Director General of EPCO on January 6, 2004. Shri Vaish was posted as Principal Secretary, Forests on May 19, 2004. Thus, Shri Vaish was engaged in environment related works for about 22 years during his service period in Madhya Pradesh, Central Government and at international level After this, Shri Vaish was Principal Secretary, Commerce, Industries and Employment and Public Sector Undertakings from June 4, 2007 to November 3, 2007.

Shri Avani Vaish was sent to Government of India on deputation on November 5, 2007 where he was assigned the responsibility of Managing Director, Tribal, Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Ltd.). On his return from deputation, Shri Vaish was posted as Additional Chief Secretary, General Administration Department in Madhya Pradesh on January 25, 2010. He assumed the highest office in the administration as the 27 th Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh on February 1, 2010.

Courtesy : http://www.mpinfo.org/mpinfonew/english/orgofstat/departments/csbio.asp