The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved the appointment of retired IAS officer Upma Dada Chawdhry as the chairperson of the governing board of Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India (MSE), making her the only woman currently heading any of India's market infrastructure institutions (MIIs).MSE announced the appointment on Friday, saying Chawdhry, who currently serves as a public interest director on the exchange's board, has received regulatory approval to assume the role.A 1983-batch IAS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, Chawdhry brings more than three decades of experience across public administration, governance, finance, rural development, education, industry, tourism and public sector reforms. She retired from government service as Secretary to the Government of India and has held several senior administrative positions at both state and central levels during her career.Chawdhry is widely known for her work in governance and institutional reforms. In 2016, she became the first woman director of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, the country's premier training institution for civil servants. She has also represented India at international forums including the World Trade Organization and worked closely with various United Nations agencies. Between 2018 and 2021, she served as a member of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration and chaired the working group for the United Nations Public Service Awards.Apart from her government career, Chawdhry has served on the boards of several institutions and companies, focusing on governance standards, organisational development and public policy.Commenting on the appointment, Latika S. Kundu said Chawdhry's governance experience would be valuable as the exchange pursues its growth plans. “We are privileged to welcome Ms. Chawdhry as chairperson of the governing board of MSE. Her distinguished public service legacy, deep governance expertise and institution-building leadership will provide immense strength to the exchange,” Kundu said.The appointment comes at a time when MSE is seeking to strengthen its presence across multiple market segments. MSE, formerly known as MCX Stock Exchange, is India's youngest stock exchange and holds SEBI recognition to operate in equity, equity derivatives, currency derivatives and debt market segments. While the exchange remains significantly smaller than rivals NSE and BSE, it has been working to expand participation through new products and partnerships across the financial ecosystem.