BVR Subramaniam is an Indian retired IAS officer of 1987 batch of Chhattisgarh cadre. In 2018, he was appointed Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir. In 2023, he was appointed CEO of NITI Aayog.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
BVR Subramaniam was born in 1961 (age 61 years; as of 2022) in Andhra Pradesh. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical from Delhi Technological University in Delhi. Later, he studied management at the London Business School in London, England.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 8″
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper (Half Bald)
Eye colour: dark brown
Family
There is not much information about his family.
signature/autograph
livelihood
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
BVR Subramaniam had served as Director and Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). From 2004 to 2008, he served as Private Secretary under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. From March 2012 to March 2015, he served as Joint Secretary under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While working in the PMO, he served as a Senior Advisor with the World Bank in Washington DC between June 2008 and September 2011.
Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Chhattisgarh
In 2015, he moved to Chhattisgarh and became the Principal Secretary. In March 2015, he was appointed Additional Chief Secretary (Home). According to sources, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh had personally requested the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to transfer BVR Subramaniam to Chhattisgarh. He is known for effectively dealing with the issues during the Maoist insurgency in Chhattisgarh and played a key role in tackling Naxalism in Maoist-affected Bastar by coordinating with central paramilitary forces and the state police. He held additional charge of prisons and transport in Chhattisgarh and also ensured that public transport was not running during the attacks against Maoists. Instead of giving directions from his office, he would undertake field visits to monitor the implementation of policies and check work in progress even in high-risk areas, which proved effective in countering the Maoists.
BVR Subramaniam is on a field visit to a high-risk area in Bastar, Chhattisgarh along with police and security force officials
In an interview, while talking about the reduction in Maoist incidents in Bastar, an official of Bastar division said that due to the active participation of BVR, planning and implementation against Maoists played a major role in controlling the insurgency. He said,
There has been a decline in Naxalite incidents in Bastar in the last three years. Unlike in the past, casualties in any Maoist attack except the one in Burkapal have been minimal. Subramaniam was at the helm of affairs and had excellent contacts with the security forces. The situation could have been the worst in this Maoist belt, but his active participation, planning and implementation as ACS (Home) helped a lot in containing the insurgency.
Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir
On 20 June 2018, following the fall of the PDP–BJP coalition government, he began serving as the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. In 2019, ahead of former President of India Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir to celebrate the victory in the Battle of Tiger Hill during the Kargil War, BVR visited the Kargil War Memorial for inspection.
BVR Subramaniam visits Kargil War Memorial in Dras ahead of former President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir
After the neutralization of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, 2273 infrastructure projects worth Rs 5,979 crore were sanctioned, of which only 506 were completed and the rest were pending for 5-10 years after the construction was sanctioned. In a 2020 interview, BVR Subramaniam said the efforts would bring good governance and development to the previous state of Jammu and Kashmir. It will take some time to fulfill the expectations of the people living in Jammu and Kashmir. He said,
I think we need patience. We have got the institutional framework and we are moving forward step by step. Once we start the development process, once we start creating jobs, once we see investments increasing, you will find people having a different mindset.
Commerce Secretary to the Government of India
On 30 June 2021, he started serving as Commerce Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
CEO of NITI Aayog
On 20 February 2023, the Government of India approved his appointment as the CEO of NITI Aayog.
Controversy
Called Jammu and Kashmir a ‘broken state’
Speaking to a group of journalists in 2020, he called Jammu and Kashmir a ‘broken state’ and said governance was bad, there was no system, no rules and the decay had started long ago. . He said,
Jammu and Kashmir was a ‘broken state’ – governance was badly broken, there was no order, no rules and decay had set in long ago. Not a single person cried over the detention of political and separatist leaders in August last year, when the Center revoked the status of Jammu and Kashmir.
After his interview, he was criticized for calling Jammu and Kashmir a ‘broken state’. Later, senior People’s Conference leader Imran Ansari attacked Subramaniam with a series of tweets, in which he said Subramaniam enjoys trashing the mainstream; He should think how many people will cry if he gets arrested and asked them to concentrate on their work instead of interfering in politics. He tweeted,
CS takes pride in destroying and defaming the J&K mainstream. Mr CS, you have been here for two years. Wonder how many people would cry if you were arrested. Hope you will concentrate on your work instead of getting involved in politics.
Salary
As Commerce Secretary, BVR Subramaniam was entitled to a monthly salary of Rs 225000 + other allowances (from May 2022).
Facts/General Knowledge
- BVR Subramaniam is popularly known as BVR among his friends and bureaucratic circles.
- He is often called the ‘no-nonsense man’ because of his work ethic.
- He is known for his expertise in internal security matters.
- When he was working in the PMO, he was considered one of the most trusted people of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
- On 30 June 2021, he started serving as Commerce Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- In September 2022, he started working as the Chairman and Managing Director of India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) on a two-year contract basis.
- He began serving as CEO of the federal think tank in 2023.
- He is also the Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.
BVR Subramaniam at the 55th convocation ceremony at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn