Mr Bharat Lal Joined Civil Service in July, 1988. In January, 2022, joined Lokpal of India, the anti-corruption body of the country, as its Secretary. Prior to this, he worked as founder Mission Director of ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’, a flagship programme started in August, 2019 to ensure clean tap water to every household and public institutions of the country, by 2024.

Since very early in career, he started working on water management. For a very long period, worked in drinking water and sanitation sector, both at the federal and state government of Gujarat and was involved in ‘sector reforms’ in water and sanitation sector started in 1999 by the federal government and played a pivotal role in formulating, planning and implementing decentralised, demand-driven and community-managed water supply, sanitation and water resource management programmes.

Post-earthquake in Gujarat, had set-up Water and Sanitation Management Organization (WASMO) in 2002 to facilitate potable tap water to every household and improved sanitation. This work became an example, which has been acknowledged by conferring Prime Minister’s Civil Services Award, Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) Award and United Nation’s Public Service Award to WASMO. In a drought prone and desert State like Gujarat, availability of drinking water is no more an issue.

Based on this experience, Government of India, in 2019 launched 51 Billion US $ programme, namely, Jal Jeevan Mission – Har Ghar Jal to ensure potable tap water to every rural household in adequate quantity of prescribed quality on regular and long-term basis. The idea is to not allow paucity of water to become a limiting factor in the socio-economic development of the country and its quest for high economic growth to eliminate poverty.      

During 2017–19, also worked as Additional Secretary to the then President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind. As Resident Commissioner of Gujarat, he promoted and facilitated investment in Gujarat as well as state’s world-wide outreach. Mr Bharat Lal believes in ‘out of box’ thinking and finding solutions to solve complex problems. has vast experience of policy making at the highest level, both on national and international issues. He also the privilege of working with Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi since 2001, when he became Chief Minister of Gujarat. Since March 2020, also worked in the core team managing Covid-19 pandemic caused by Corona virus in the country.

He is presently working as Director General of National Centre for Good Governance, an autonomous institution of Govt of India.

Entrepreneurs and Management Professionals struggle to get things done when working with several stakeholders especially when there are several peers working together. Mr Bharat Lal has a vast experience in “Getting Things Done” while working with Politicians, Citizens, Bureaucrats under difficult circumstances and ensuring implementation and getting the desired outcome successfully. He shall be speaking on “Collaborative Leadership” – getting things done under adverse conditions involving several stakeholders.