Assam: The tenure of Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota has been extended by another six months, allowing the senior IAS officer to continue in the state’s top bureaucratic post until April 30, 2027.
A 1993-batch IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, Dr Ravi Kota assumed charge as the Chief Secretary of Assam on April 1, 2024. Since then, he has been overseeing key administrative and policy matters of the Assam government.
The extension will allow him to continue leading the state administration through April 2027.
Ravi Kota’s Academic Background
Dr Ravi Kota was born on April 12, 1966, in Andhra Pradesh. He has a strong academic background in agriculture and holds a Ph.D. in Agronomy from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, where he was a gold medalist.
His educational qualifications include:
- Ph.D. in Agronomy, IARI, New Delhi
- M.Sc. in Agriculture, Agricultural College, Bapatla
- B.Sc. in Agriculture, Agricultural College, Bapatla
Before joining the civil services, he briefly taught Political Science at Hindu College, which added to his academic and governance experience.
He joined the IAS in 1993 and underwent foundational training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, from 1993 to 1995.
Extensive Experience in Assam District Administration
Dr Kota has held several important district-level positions in Assam during his career.
His early assignments included:
- Assistant Commissioner, Jorhat (1994–1995)
- Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Sivasagar
- Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Gossaigaon
- Deputy Commissioner, Golaghat (1998–2000)
- Deputy Commissioner, Sivasagar (2000–2002)
- Deputy Commissioner, Jorhat (2002–2004)
During his district postings, he handled areas including flood relief, development projects and internal security, gaining extensive experience in grassroots administration.
Key Roles in Assam Government
Dr Kota later took on several senior responsibilities in the Assam government.
As Principal Finance Secretary from 2014 to 2018, he was involved in managing the state’s finances during major fiscal changes, including the transition from VAT to GST.
His responsibilities included:
- Managing internal resources
- Market borrowings
- External assistance
- Fiscal management
- Mobilising private investment
He also served as Principal Secretary, Urban Development, where he oversaw initiatives including the Guwahati Smart City Project and a JICA-funded water supply project.
Kota also served as Commissioner of Taxes, dealing with the state’s sales tax and GST administration.
Experience at the Central Government Level
Dr Ravi Kota has also held important positions in the Central Government.
He served as Joint Secretary, Fifteenth Finance Commission, from 2018 to 2020, where he was involved in fiscal analysis covering all 28 states.
His work included policy areas related to:
- Disaster management
- Air pollution control
- Third-tier governance reforms
- Fiscal policy and resource allocation
He also held senior responsibilities in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), contributing to internal security and administrative policy frameworks.
International Experience in Washington D.C.
Dr Kota served as Minister (Economic) at the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C. from 2020 to 2023, representing the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
During his tenure, he handled India-US bilateral economic, financial and investment relations during the COVID-19 recovery period and the transition between the Trump and Biden administrations.
He also engaged with US officials and clean energy companies under the US-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership 2030.
During India’s G20 presidency in 2023, he worked closely with international institutions including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Over his three years in the United States, he travelled extensively across the country and contributed to efforts aimed at strengthening investment and economic ties between India and the US.
Awards and Recognition
Dr Ravi Kota has received recognition for his contributions to public administration and financial governance.
His key awards include:
- Chief Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Governance (2017–18): Recognised for automating budget planning and expenditure management.
- Chief Minister’s Award for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (2016–17): Recognised for efforts that brought around 700,000 tea garden workers into the formal banking system.
Personal Profile and Areas of Expertise
Dr Ravi Kota is known for combining academic expertise with extensive administrative experience across district, state, central and international assignments.
He speaks Telugu, Hindi, English, Assamese and Bengali. His interests include films, music and sports.
His professional expertise spans several areas, including:
- Public finance
- Fiscal policy
- Urban development
- Disaster management
- Internal security
- Governance and administration
- International economic diplomacy
With the latest six-month extension, Dr Ravi Kota will continue serving as Assam’s Chief Secretary until April 30, 2027, bringing his extensive administrative experience to the state’s top bureaucratic position.
Read also: Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota Orders Faster Flood Relief as Death Toll Reaches 41
