Bengaluru: Meenakshi Negi, a 1989 batch IFS Officer of Karnataka cadre, has been appointed as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force), Karnataka, Bengaluru, with immediate effect, relieving Subhash K. Malkhede from concurrent charge.

With this appointment, Meenakshi becomes the first woman IFS Officer to head State Forest Force. She is currently the second woman PCCF in the country after Maharashtra’s PCCF, HOFF Shomita Biswas.

A native of Uttarakhand, Meenakshi Negi was serving as a Member-Secretary of National Women’s Commission at New Delhi for the past two years.

Earlier, during her postings in Karnataka, she had served as a DCF at Ballari, Chikkamagalur, Mandya and other places, before her deputation to the Centre, where she served as a Joint Secretary of AYUSH Department.

Meenakshi Negi’s husband Vijay Sharma, also an IFS Officer of Karnataka cadre, retired from service in January last.