Amitabh Kant

Kant, who joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1980 (Kerala cadre), was G20 Sherpa to the Prime Minister of India during India’s Presidency of G20 in 2022-23; he contributed significantly in steering the G20 towards unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration that outlined a clear path for addressing pressing global issues. Amongst others, he has served as Chief Executive Officer (‘CEO’) of NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) where he, inter alia, spearheaded the Aspirational Districts Program to uplift India’s under-developed districts through strategic competition, focused governance and targeted interventions. He has also served as Secretary to the then Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, CEO of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation, Joint Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, and Tourism Secretary to the Government of Kerala. During his tenure in Kerala, he conceptualised the ‘God’s Own Country’ campaign, reviving Kerala’s local culture and cuisine. This initiative laid the foundation for the ‘Incredible India’ campaign, which he later spearheaded during his tenure as Joint Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism. He has also authored various books including ‘Made in India’, ‘Incredible India 2.0’, and ‘Branding India - An Incredible Story’, and is a recipient of several awards.

Other Directorships and Positions