Madhav Godbole joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1959 and took voluntary retirement in March 1993, when he was Union Home Secretary and Secretary Justice. His distinguished career included assignments such as Secretary, Petroleum & Natural Gas, and Secretary, Urban Development in the Government of India, Principal Finance Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, and Chairman, Maharashtra State Electricity Board. He worked for the Asian Development Bank from 1980 to 1985. He has been chairman of several committees including the Enron power project, good governance, right to information, and management of international borders.