The Central Government has appointed Vijay Kumar, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, as the next Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
According to an office memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, Kumar will first serve as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) before formally taking charge on October 1, succeeding T. K. Ramachandran, who retires on September 30.
Currently serving as Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India, Kumar has been at the helm of efforts to expand and modernise India’s inland water transport network.
Born in Delhi, the 54-year-old officer entered the IAS at the age of 21 after clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 1992. He began his career as Sub-Divisional Magistrate in East Delhi and has since held several senior positions across diverse sectors, including education, trade, excise, water supply, and transport. His notable assignments include stints as Special Secretary (Cooperation) in Delhi, Principal Secretary (Power) in the Union Territory, Administrator of Lakshadweep, and CEO of the Delhi Jal Board.
Kumar holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering and an MBA in Economic Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He also earned a Diploma in Business Finance from the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India.
