Suvasish Das & Dr VS Senthil Kumar Empanelled for Central Government Joint Secretary-Level Roles

Assam–Meghalaya and AGMUT Cadre Officers Selected to Serve in Key Policy-Making Positions at the Centre

The Government of India has empanelled two senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers to hold positions of Joint Secretary or equivalent in the central administration. The officers selected for these prestigious roles are Suvasish Das, a 2005-batch officer of the Assam–Meghalaya cadre, and Dr. V S Senthil Kumar, a 2005-batch officer of the AGMUT cadre.

Their empanelment represents a significant career milestone, enabling them to contribute directly to policy formulation and implementation at the national level.

Suvasish Das: A Profile of Experience and Leadership

Professional Background

Born on December 2, 1977, Suvasish Das entered the Indian Forest Service on August 8, 2005, after securing 17th rank in the 2004 UPSC IFS Examination. Over the years, he has distinguished himself through a blend of administrative leadership and technical expertise in forestry.
Education

Das holds a Master of Science degree from Delhi University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Forest Management from the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun. His academic training has provided him with both scientific knowledge and managerial skills essential for modern forestry administration.

Career Milestones

During his tenure in the Assam–Meghalaya cadre, Das has served in several pivotal roles, including:

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Sonitpur East Division

Conservator of Forests (Development, RE&WP)

Beyond his cadre responsibilities, he has also contributed to corporate governance. He served as a Director on the Board of Hemisphere Properties India Limited (HPIL), a Government of India enterprise, until January 20, 2025. In late 2024, he was also recommended for the post of Director in the Ministry of Railways, reflecting his versatility across administrative and corporate domains.

Dr. V S Senthil Kumar: Expertise in Bio-Economy and Forestry Training

Cadre and Background

Dr. V S Senthil Kumar belongs to the 2005 AGMUT cadre, originally allotted to Jammu & Kashmir before the cadre’s merger into AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories). A native of Tamil Nadu, he has made notable contributions in forestry education, research, and training.

Education and Specialization

Dr. Kumar holds a Doctorate (PhD) and specializes in Bio-economy, Bio-informatics, and Green Business. His formal forestry training was completed at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun, equipping him with advanced knowledge in sustainable resource management.

Professional Career

Currently, Dr. Kumar serves as a Lecturer at the Central Academy for State Forest Service (CASFOS), Dehradun, where he has been posted since July 14, 2021, with his tenure continuing until July 13, 2025. In this role, he has been actively engaged in training and capacity building of forest service officers, while also delivering lectures on bio-economy and green business, thereby contributing to knowledge dissemination and policy-relevant research in the forestry sector.

Here are key details

Service & Batch: Indian Forest Service, 2005

Cadre: AGMUT (formerly Jammu & Kashmir)

Professional Focus: Forestry training, bio-economy, green business

Significance of the Empanelment

Empanelment as a Joint Secretary or equivalent is regarded as one of the most prestigious milestones in an IFS officer’s career. It provides officers with the opportunity to serve at the highest levels of central administration, influencing national policies across sectors such as environment, forests, and sustainable development.

Both Suvasish Das and Dr. V S Senthil Kumar bring decades of cadre experience, academic expertise, and professional specialization, positioning them to make impactful contributions to India’s governance and environmental policy framework.