Shashi Ranjan Kumar IAS given extension in upgradation as Secretary- UPSC
Shri Shashi Ranjan Kumar IAS (Tripura 1992) given extension in upgradation of the post of Secretary, Union Public Service Commission from the level of Additional Secretary to that of Secretary for a term up to 03.09.2027 by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet .
Who is IAS Shashi Ranjan Kumar ? Senior Administrator with Extensive Experience in UPSC, Telecommunications and Textiles
Shri Shashi Ranjan Kumar is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer with an extensive administrative career spanning more than three decades. An engineer by education, he holds a Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering, in which he secured First Division. His professional journey has covered district administration, rural development, industrial policy, telecommunications, textiles, planning, cooperation and public service recruitment.
Shri Kumar is currently serving as Secretary in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), New Delhi, under the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. His tenure in the position is scheduled from September 2023 to December 2028. As Secretary, he is associated with the administrative functioning of the country’s premier constitutional recruitment institution, which conducts examinations and selection processes for various important civil services and posts under the Government of India.
Before assuming his present responsibility, Shri Kumar served as Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Ministry of Textiles from March 2021 to March 2025. The assignment provided him with extensive exposure to the policy, financial and administrative aspects of the textiles sector. As one of India’s major industries and a significant source of employment and exports, the sector involves complex issues relating to manufacturing, trade, investment and industrial development.
A major phase of Shri Kumar’s career was spent in the telecommunications sector. He served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, from December 2013 to December 2018. The assignment provided him with significant experience in the administration and policy framework of India’s rapidly expanding telecommunications sector. He also attended the National Defence College in 2018, gaining exposure to strategic, economic and national policy issues.
Shri Kumar has held several important positions in the Government of Tripura. He served as Secretary in the Cooperation Department and Planning Department, where he was associated with the administration of cooperative institutions and planning processes. Earlier, he held responsibilities in public distribution, serving as Director in the concerned department.
His career also includes substantial experience in district and urban administration. He served as District Collector and District Magistrate in North Tripura and subsequently held similar responsibilities during his inter-cadre deputation to Jharkhand. As a district administrator, he was responsible for revenue administration, development coordination, implementation of government programmes and overall district governance.
During his tenure in Jharkhand, Shri Kumar also served as Additional Commissioner in municipal administration and as Administrator of the Greater Ranchi Development Authority. These assignments gave him experience in urban development, municipal governance and the planning and development of a major urban region.
Shri Kumar has also worked in industrial development and public sector management. He served as Managing Director of the State Industrial Development Corporation in Tripura. The position provided him with exposure to industrial promotion, investment facilitation and the management of a state-level development corporation.
At the beginning of his career, Shri Kumar was closely associated with rural development administration. He served as Project Director in North Tripura and West Tripura and handled responsibilities related to the implementation of development programmes. He also served as Sub-Divisional Officer in South Tripura and Assistant Collector in West Tripura, gaining valuable field-level experience.
His central government experience further includes a significant tenure in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, where he served as Deputy Secretary and later Director. These assignments provided him with experience in commerce, industry and industrial policy at the national level.
Shri Shashi Ranjan Kumar’s career reflects a broad combination of field administration, economic policy, technology-sector governance and institutional management. From district administration in the Northeast to senior responsibilities in telecommunications, textiles and the UPSC, he has served across diverse areas of public administration.
With his present responsibility as Secretary of the UPSC, Shri Kumar continues to serve at the highest levels of public administration. His extensive experience in governance, policy formulation, finance, industry and central government administration has shaped a distinguished career spanning more than three decades of public service.
Indian Bureaucracy News wishes Shri Shashi Ranjan Kumar the very best.