In a significant bureaucratic reshuffle, the Central government has appointed Vijay Kumar (IAS: 1992: AGMUT) as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. He will formally take charge as Secretary of the Ministry upon the superannuation of the present incumbent, T. K. Ramachandran (IAS: 1991: TN), on September 30, 2025.
Kumar, a seasoned bureaucrat, is presently serving as the Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. During his tenure at IWAI, he has been instrumental in accelerating India’s inland water transport sector, especially through the ambitious Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) on National Waterway-1 (the Ganga River). The project, partly funded by the World Bank, is aimed at enabling the movement of large vessels between Varanasi and Haldia, thereby boosting trade, cutting logistics costs, and promoting sustainable transport.
An officer of the Arunachal-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre, Kumar has held several key assignments at both the Central and state/UT levels. His career spans roles in infrastructure development, governance, public finance, and logistics, where he has consistently contributed to policy reforms and institutional strengthening. At IWAI, he also oversaw the promotion of multimodal logistics hubs, vessel design modernization, and the integration of inland waterways with coastal shipping and road-rail networks.
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His upcoming role as Secretary of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways will place him at the helm of India’s maritime transformation agenda. The Ministry is currently driving flagship initiatives like Sagarmala, which focuses on port modernization, port-led industrialization, and coastal community development, as well as efforts to strengthen India’s presence in global shipping and logistics value chains.
Kumar’s leadership will be crucial as India looks to harness its 7,500 km coastline, expand port capacity, increase private sector participation, and position itself as a key player in global maritime trade. With the government targeting a reduction in logistics costs to 8–9% of GDP by 2030 (from the current 13–14%), his experience in inland waterways and multimodal connectivity is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the sector’s future.
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