Ajay Kumar (civil servant)

Ajay Kumar (born 2 October 1962) is a retired officer of the Indian Administrative Service, of the batch of 1985. He served as the Defence Secretary of India. He is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and the University of Minnesota and was awarded separate two fellowships by the University of Minnesota. [1]

For other people named Ajay Kumar, see Ajay Kumar.

Ajay Kumar
Kumar in 2019
39th Defence Secretary of India
In office
23 August 2019 – 31 October 2022
Appointed byAppointments Committee of the Cabinet
MinisterRajnath Singh
Preceded bySanjay Mitra
Succeeded byGiridhar Aramane
39th Defence Production Secretary of India
In office
1 December 2017 – 23 August 2019
Appointed byAppointments Committee of the Cabinet
MinisterNirmala Sitharaman
Preceded byAshok Kumar
Succeeded bySubhash Chandra, IAS (Karnataka, 1986)
Personal details
Born
Ajay Kumar

(1962-10-02) 2 October 1962
Uttar Pradesh
NationalityIndian
Alma materIIT Kanpur (B.Tech)
University of Minnesota (MS, PhD)
OccupationIAS officer
ProfessionCivil servant

Ajay Kumar is known for his in depth knowledge for technology and was instrumental in path breaking policy formations such as electronics manufacturing, mobile manufacturing and also played decision making role in Govt of India’s flagship Digital India program.

He is accredited to scale up defense exports to approximately 13,000 crores with the introduction of modern warfare capabilities and disruptive technologies and innovations. [2] He established the iDEX initiative to help create a conducive and cost-effective defense start-up ecosystem that fosters innovation and technology development. [3] He was in charge of Project 75I, which is developing next-generation submarines and fighters and laying the groundwork for a future marine and aerospace industrial ecosystem in India. [4]

Education

Kumar has a Bachelor of Technology in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur,[5] has a master's degree in development economics from the University of Minnesota,[5] and has a PhD degree in business administration from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.[5]

In 2019, he was felicitated as a distinguished alumnus by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur for his professional excellence and nation-building efforts.[6][7][8]

Career

Kumar has served in various posts in both the Government of India and the Government of Kerala, such as Principal Secretary (Information Technology), managing director of the Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation, Secretary (Industries), managing director of the Kerala State Co-operative Agricultural and Rural Development Bank, general manager in the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation and as the district magistrate and collector of the Palghat (now Palakkad) district in the Kerala government;[5] and as the Defence Production Secretary, additional secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, joint secretary in the Department of Information Technology of the now-erstwhile Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, 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 in the Indian government.[5][9]

Ajay kumar spent three decade of his service with the Kerala state government where he headed three different departments.[10]

Kumar also served as a private secretary to a minister in the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (now Ministry of New and Renewable Energy).[5]

Principal Secretary

He was Principal Secretary to Government of Kerala, Information Technology Department from October 2007 to December 2010.

Joint Secretary

Kumar held the post of Joint Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and additional charge of Director General at National Informatics Centre from 2010 to 2014.

Additional Secretary

He was Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology during 2015 - 2019

Defence Production Secretary

Kumar was appointed as the Defence Production Secretary by the prime minister-headed Appointments Committee of the Cabinet in November 2017,[11][12][13] he assumed office on 1 December 2017.[5] He served as Defence Production Secretary till 23 August 2019 and was succeeded by Subhash Chandra, an IAS officer of Karnataka cadre (1986 batch).[14]

Defence Secretary

Kumar was appointed as Union Defence Secretary on 21 August 2019, and he assumed office on 23 August 2019 when Sanjay Mitra retired and served the office till 31 October 2022.[15][16] Kumar travelled to Paris along with Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh to take delivery of first Rafale fighter jet.[17][18] On 4 June 2020, Kumar tested positive for COVID-19.[19]

Secretary, Department of Defence Production

Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar was assigned additional charge of Secretary, Department of Defence Production on 30th Nov 2021 and served the office till 31 October 2022.[20]

Professional work

Dr Ajay Kumar, the Defence Secretary, commissioned the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Saksham, the fifth of the 105-metre Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) class. ICGS Saksham's commissioning has enhanced the ability of the ICG to fulfill the diverse maritime tasks. [21]

In March 2022, he asserted that defence imports have been decreasing continuously, with the focus been given on emerging defence technologies like cyberspace and underwater warfare and enhancing R&D investments aimed at optimizing defence operations and augmenting military efficiency. [22]

On 20 April 2022, Kumar launched INS Vagsheer, the sixth Scorpene-class submarine under Project-75, at Mazagon Dock in Mumbai.[23]

Honours and awards
Kumar in convocation ceremony

He received distinguished Alumni award from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur in 2019 for the entrepreneurship excellence work.[24] Kumar is credited for the creation of an Electronics Development Fund, which focuses on developing technology start-ups in defence sector.[25]

Ajay Kumar was named one of the top-50 effective bureaucrats in the year 2019 in a survey conducted by Asia Post for adhering to the cardinal principles of civil service that is professionalism, anonymity, integrity and neutrality. [26]

References
  1. "Dr. Ajay Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Electronics and IT, enters NRO NC of APNIC". www.businesswireindia.com. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  2. Peri, Dinakar (8 July 2022). "Defence exports touch ₹13,000 crore: official". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  3. www.ETGovernment.com. "Centre's Rs 498.8 cr push for defence start-ups a big boost: Ajay Kumar - ET Government". ETGovernment.com. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  4. "Sumbarine Project 75I moving ahead under the strategic partnership model only—Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar". Financialexpress. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  5. "Ajay Kumar — Executive Sheet". Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  6. "Distinguished Alumni Felicitated At IIT Kanpur Diamond Jubilee Celebration". BW Education. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  7. "Distinguished alumni honoured for contribution to IIT- Kanpur, nation". Hindustan Times. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  8. "Amid border tensions with China, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar leaves for Moscow ahead of India-US meeting". www.timesnownews.com. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  9. IANS (28 November 2017). "Ajay Kumar new Defence Production Secretary". Business Standard India. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  10. "Dr Ajay Kumar, IAS moved to Delhi as Jt.Secy, IT Ministry". indiatechonline.com. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  11. "ACC appointments". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  12. "Ajay Kumar appointed secretary, defence production". The Economic Times. New Delhi: The Times Group. Press Trust of India. 27 November 2017. OCLC 61311680. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  13. "Ajay Kumar Appointed Secretary, Defence Production". BW Businessworld. BW Online Bureau. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  14. @SpokespersonMoD (23 August 2019). "New Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Subhash Chandra welcoming Defence Secretary @drajaykumar_ias who assumed office today" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. "ACC appointments". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 21 August 2019.
  16. @SpokespersonMoD (23 August 2019). "Defence Secretary @drajaykumar_ias felicitating his predecessor Shri Sanjay Mitra at his farewell in New Delhi, today" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. "First Rafale delivery in September 2019 as per schedule: Ajay Kumar". The Economic Times. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  18. Roche, Elizabeth (8 October 2019). "India takes delivery of first Rafale fighter jet". Mint. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  19. "Coronavirus | India's Defence Secretary tests positive for COVID-19 - The Hindu". The Hindu. 3 June 2020.
  20. "Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar assigned additional charge of Secretary, Department of Defence Production". ANI News. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  21. www.ETGovernment.com. "Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar commissions offshore patrol vessel ICGS Saksham at Goa port - ET Government". ETGovernment.com. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  22. www.ETGovernment.com. "New defence technologies need to be developed in cyber, space, underwater and info warfares: Ajay Kumar, Defence Secretary - ET Government". ETGovernment.com. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  23. "India gets its sixth Scorpene-class submarine 'INS Vagsheer' in Mumbai". Hindustan Times. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  24. "Reference at www.uniindia.com".
  25. "MY BRAND BOOK Dr. Ajay Kumar, Additional Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Telecom and IT, GoI".
  26. "What makes Dr Ajay Kumar an IAS with a difference? » PSU WATCH | Latest PSU News, PSU News, Business News, Market News, PSU Privatization". psuwatch.com. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  27. "EFY felicitates Dr. Ajay Kumar as Electronics Leader of the Year". www.indiainfoline.com. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
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