Pavan Kumar Malapati IAS re-designated as Director – MoD
Shri Pavan Kumar Malapati IAS (Karnataka 2012) presently Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Defence has been re-designated as Director in the Ministry of Defence with effect from 01.01.2026 for a period up to 17.06.2030 i.e. total admissible tenure of five years under the Central Staffing Scheme. The central deputation tenure of Shri Pavan Kumar Malapati is w.e.f. 18.06.2025.
Shri Pavan Kumar Malapati is a senior Indian Administrative Service officer distinguished by his strong technical education, wide-ranging administrative experience, and consistent performance across field, secretariat, and central government assignments. With a career spanning district administration, finance, rural development, science and technology, and defence, he represents a well-rounded and policy-oriented administrator.
Shri Malapati holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering from the prestigious Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, where he graduated in Second Division. His engineering background has contributed significantly to his structured decision-making, systems thinking, and ability to manage complex administrative and technical challenges, particularly in sectors such as infrastructure, technology, and defence.
He is currently serving on central deputation as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, New Delhi, for the period 18 June 2025 to 17 June 2029 (forenoon). In this critical role, he is involved in defence administration, policy formulation, inter-ministerial coordination, and oversight of matters related to national security and defence preparedness. This assignment places him at the heart of strategic governance and reflects the confidence reposed in him by the Government of India.
Prior to his posting in the Ministry of Defence, Shri Malapati served in several senior positions in the Karnataka cadre. From 7 February 2024 to 13 June 2025, he worked as Managing Director in the Department of Information and Biotechnology, Bengaluru, where he was responsible for initiatives related to information technology, digital transformation, and innovation-driven governance. Earlier, he served as Director in the Department of Science & Technology and Information Technology between 13 October 2023 and 18 November 2024, contributing to policy planning and implementation in science-led development and emerging technologies.
His experience in rural development forms a significant part of his administrative career. He served as Commissioner, Department of Rural Development, from 26 July 2023 to 26 March 2025, overseeing the implementation of major rural development programs, monitoring scheme outcomes, and strengthening coordination between state and district administrations. Earlier, from 1 January 2016 to 28 November 2016, he worked as Chief Executive Officer in the same department, gaining hands-on experience in grassroots governance and program execution.
Shri Malapati also brings substantial district-level leadership experience. As District Collector, Bellary, from 11 January 2021 to 23 July 2023, he was responsible for overall district administration, land revenue management, development planning, and law and order. His tenure involved handling developmental priorities as well as administrative challenges in a resource-rich and sensitive district. Earlier in his career, he served as Assistant Commissioner in Bellary and Uttara Kannada, where he dealt with sub-divisional administration and revenue matters, laying a strong foundation in field governance.
The finance sector has been another major area of his expertise. Between 2016 and 2020, Shri Malapati held multiple assignments as Deputy Secretary in the Finance Department, Bengaluru, handling key portfolios such as Expenditure, Budget, and Institutional Finance. He later served as Additional Commissioner (Commercial Taxes) from 1 July 2020 to 10 January 2021, gaining exposure to taxation policy, revenue administration, and fiscal management.
Shri Pavan Kumar Malapati began his IAS career with professional training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, from 3 September 2012 to 31 May 2013. Over the years, his career progression reflects a blend of technical competence, financial acumen, field experience, and policy-level insight. His appointments and responsibilities continue to attract attention in Indian Bureaucracy Latest News, underscoring his role in key administrative and defence-related assignments at both the state and national levels.
Indian Bureaucracy News wishes Shri Pavan Kumar Malapati the very best.