Nita Chowdhury, IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre and belonging to the 1977 batch, took charge as Secretary, ministry for women and child development, government of India on July 1, 2013. Chowdhury was earlier Secretary, Youth Affairs in the ministry of sports and youth affairs. She replaces Prem Narain.
Chowdhury earlier held posts of District Magistrate, Jalon, Kanpur; Commissioner of Muradabad and Agra divisions; and Principal Secretary of industrial development, health and taxation departments in the Uttar Pradesh government. She was also posted as Joint Secretary in department of animal husbandry, Government of India. Chowdhury has a PhD in international relations.