Shri Jishnu Barua is a former IAS Officer, who joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1988 and was allotted the Assam-Meghalaya cadre. In his service career in the State Government of Assam, Shri Barua had served in several capacities in the field, such as Deputy Commissioner of districts (1994-1997), Managing Director, Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) in 1997-2001, Commissioner & Secretary, Personnel, Home & Political Departments (2007-2012), etc. He was also on Central Deputation from 2001-2006 and during that period, served as Private Secretary to the Union Minister of State for Commerce, Statistics and Programme Implementation, etc., and later as Director (Police) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

He was on Central Deputation again from 2014 to 2017 and posted as Joint Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training (DOPT), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Government of India, looking after Vigilance, Training and Service matters.

Upon returning to Assam, Shri Barua was posted as Principal Secretary to the Government of Assam, Power Department during which he also served as Chairman of Distribution, Generation and Transmission Companies under the State Government. Thereafter, he took over as Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department & Revenue Department. Shri Barua was elevated to Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam on 31^st October, 2020. He also held additional charge as Chairman, Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd. Shri Jishnu Barua superannuated from service as Chief Secretary on 31^st August 2022.

Shri Barua served in the Power Sector in Assam in two stints, i.e., 2017-2018 and June 2021 to February 2023. He was Additional Chief Secretary, Power and Chairman, APDCL in 2017-2018, when APDCL made history by recording collection efficiency above 100% for the first time. In that year, against revenue demand of Rs.4759.45 Crore, Rs.4883.90 Crore was realised with collection efficiency of 102.61%. With better collection efficiency, AT&C losses for that year fell to 15.71% against the UDAY target of 17.75% for FY 2017-18.

During his second stint as Chairman, APDCL in FY 2021-22, the collection efficiency exceeded 100% for the second time in the Company’s history. In FY 2021-22, Rs.6294.81 Crore was collected against demand of Rs.6083.55 Crore with a collection efficiency of 103.47% and AT&C losses of 16.95%. The improvement in revenue collection was possible due to special focus on revenue collection, proper indexing of consumers to appropriate distribution transformers, use of artificial intelligence for meter reading, aggressive monitoring through a dedicated WhatsApp group for revenue collection, continuous micro and detailed analysis of collection and billing data, installation of smart meters in urban areas, deploying revenue collection agents (also known as Easy Pay Agent) in remote areas etc.

Shri Barua joined as Chairperson CERC on 2^nd March, 2023.

A post-graduate in History from St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, Shri Barua had also attended the 46th Course on Strategic and Defence Studies at the National Defence College (NDC) in 2006. He was awarded an M. Phil Degree by the University of Madras for his thesis at NDC.