In a significant administrative change, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has named Srivatsa Krishna as the new Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism for the Government of India. This appointment is part of a broader bureaucratic reshuffle across various ministries.

Mr. Krishna, a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Karnataka cadre, takes over the role from V Vidyavathi. Ms. Vidyavathi, a 1991-batch IAS officer, has been reassigned as the Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

The new Tourism Secretary brings a distinguished academic and service record to his new post.

• Educational Background: Srivatsa Krishna holds an MBA from Harvard University (reportedly the first IAS officer to do so), a PhD in Management from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, and a postgraduate degree in International Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
• Career Highlights: He achieved All India Rank 1 in the 1994 UPSC Civil Services Examination. His previous administrative roles include serving as the Secretary for Commerce & Industry in the Government of Karnataka and as the Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of the Coffee Board of India.
• Expertise: He has considerable experience in urban administration, e-governance (having contributed to early e-governance initiatives in India), and the development of major technology hubs like Cyberabad. He has also worked with the World Bank Group.

This leadership change in the Ministry of Tourism is expected to usher in a new phase of policy direction and governance aimed at boosting the nation’s travel and hospitality sector.