Alok Ranjan did his B.A (Hon.) in Economics from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University and MBA from Indian Institute of Management Ahmadabad (IIM A). Following his inner calling, he wrote the civil service exam and was selected in the IAS in 1978 in his first attempt securing a rank in the top ten in India. He has served in the IAS in various Capacities in UP Government and Government of India and retired in 2016 as Chief Secretary to the UP Government.
Amongst the main assignments that Alok Ranjan held were District Magistrate and Collector of five Districts, Municipal Commissioner, Secretary to the Chief Minister, Principal Secretary/Secretary to the departments of Urban development, finance, environment, technical and vocational education, basic education in the Government of UP and as joint Secretary Defense, Government of India. He was also agriculture production commissioner (APC) and infrastructure and industrial development commissioner Government of UP prior to becoming the Chief Secretary. Post retirement, Alok Ranjan has been contributing to the society as a thought leader.