What makes Dr Ajay Kumar an IAS with a difference?

Dr Ajay Kumar, an IAS officer of 1985 batch has got his name placed on the list of top-50 effective bureaucrats survey for sticking to the cardinal principles of civil services that is professionalism, anonymity, integrity and neutrality

New Delhi: Dr Ajay Kumar, an IAS officer of 1985 batch (Kerala Cadre) has been chosen in the list of India's most effective bureaucrats 2019 in a survey conducted by Asia Post, Fame India Magazine and India's fastest growing government business news publication PSU Watch. Currently serving as Defence Secretary, Govt of India, Kumar has been able to create a distinct image of an efficient IAS officer with a proven track record of effective policy formation and implementation. He enjoys the credit for bringing about a paradigm shift in the policy formation of Modi government's flagship initiatives like Make In India and Digital India. One of the rare bureaucrats with cardinal principles of civil services that are, professionalism, anonymity, integrity and neutrality.

PSU Watch had published a full list of "Top 50 Most Effective Bureaucrats" after the survey was over.

Early life

Born in Jalandhar, Punjab, Dr Kumar spent his early life in Uttar Pradesh. He is a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. After getting into administrative services Kumar completed his Master of Science (MS) in Development Economics from the University of Minnesota. He also completed Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota.

Professional career

Dr Ajay Kumar has served in various posts in both the Government of India and the Government of Kerala, his home cadre. From serving as District Magistrate (DM) of the Palghat (now Palakkad) district, to GM in the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, Managing Director (MD) of the Kerala State Co-operative Agricultural and Rural Development Bank, MD of the Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation, Secretary (Industries) to Principal Secretary (Information Technology) he held various posts in Kerala government.

Dr Ajay Kumar, an IAS officer of 1985 batch has got his name placed on the list of top-50 effective bureaucrats survey for sticking to the cardinal principles of civil services that is professionalism, anonymity, integrity and neutrality

In 2010 he came to Centre and got his first posting in the Department of Information Technology (DIT/DeitY/MeitY) from Dec 2010 to Nov 2017. In his more around a decade long tenure with Government of India, he has worked as a director in the Department of Biotechnology of the Ministry of Science and Technology and as a deputy secretary in the Department of Home of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Notably while working at the centre in various roles Kumar has been instrumental in the field of Electronics Manufacturing, mobile phones manufacturing in India and initiatives like Digital India, myGov, Pragati, Jeevan Pramaan, National Scholarship portal, Biometric Attendance system, and many others.

PSU Watch wishes Dr Kumar a great career ahead.