Dr. Ramanath Jha belongs to the 1977 batch of the IAS. In the 80s and 90s, he worked as Administrator Pandharpur Municipal Council, Administrator & Municipal Commissioner Solapur, Collector & Deputy Director Municipal Administration, Ahmednagar, Municipal Commissioner Pune and Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA. His subsequent postings were as Regional Advisor, South Asia for the Urban Management Programme of the UNDP/UN-Habitat, Vice Chairman & Managing Director of MSRDC and Principal Secretary, Transport, Ports and State Excise, GoM. He received the State Government’s Chinmulgund award for administrative excellence in 1989. He sought voluntary retirement from Government in 2008 and joined the private sector as CEO & MD, Khed Economic Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. He is currently Chairman, Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC), Chairman, Mumbai Commission for Art, Culture and Music (MCAMC), Adviser, Mumbai Parking Authority (MPA), Director General, MCGM’s Centre for Capacity Building & Research (MCMCR) and Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation (ORF).

Dr. Jha led the Mumbai DP team for preparing the Development Plan Mumbai 2034 (2015-2019). He was a member of the Expert Group on Economic Revival of Maharashtra post Covid-19 Lockdown, member of the Transparency Committee, GoM for suggesting reforms in urban local bodies, member of the Expert Committee for the preparation of the Model Municipal Law commissioned by GoI, member of the Expert Panel for Property Tax Reforms in Delhi, member of the Expert Panel for National Urban Awards instituted by CRISIL and Chairman of the Committee of GoM for framing the bill on Metropolitan Planning Committee. He was also the DG of All India Institute of Local Self Government (AIILSG).

He co-authored a book “Towards People Friendly Studies” published by UNICEF and “Urban Essays” published by YASHADA. He was Editor of the “City Development Strategy for Hyderabad” published by UN-Habitat, “Perspectives in Urban Development” published by Symbiosis and theme mentor for two modules “Urban Governance” and “Municipal Management” prepared by YASHADA. He has published a number of papers on a variety of urban subjects and lectures widely on urban issues.