New Delhi: Ujjwal Kumar Ghosh, a 2008-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Karnataka cadre, has been assigned additional charge as Director (Inspection & Quality Control) at the Export Inspection Council of India (EIC) for a period of six months.
Ghosh will continue his existing responsibilities as Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, while taking on the additional assignment at the export inspection body.
The latest move places an experienced civil servant with a background in state administration and central government work in charge of a role directly connected with export quality, inspection and certification.
Ghosh’s Current Role at the Centre
Ghosh is currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce notification records his appointment as Joint Secretary with effect from 19 January 2026, for a tenure of five years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
In June 2026, the Press Information Bureau also identified him as Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, during an interaction with agricultural and marine exporters in Kochi.
His work at the Department of Commerce places him within the central government’s trade administration framework, including interaction with exporters and stakeholders across different sectors.
Additional Charge at Export Inspection Council
The Export Inspection Council of India is responsible for export inspection and quality-control functions. Its work includes certification of the quality of export commodities through quality-assurance systems, consignment-wise inspection and certification related to food safety.
The EIC also issues certificates of origin for exporters under various preferential tariff schemes.
As Director (Inspection & Quality Control), Ghosh’s additional assignment therefore places him at the centre of the organisation’s inspection and quality-assurance functions.
The EIC’s official website currently identifies Shri Ujjwal Kumar Ghosh, IAS, as Director (I&Q/C) and highlights the council’s role in maintaining quality, safety and compliance for Indian exports.
The Journey Behind the Appointment
Born on 12 August 1978, Ghosh is a direct-recruit IAS officer from the 2008 batch of the Karnataka cadre. His career has covered district administration, state-level governance and central government responsibilities.
Available civil-service profile records list his educational qualifications as B.Sc. and M.Sc. from Allahabad University. They also record his proficiency in English, Hindi and Kannada.
His career began in Karnataka after joining the IAS in 2008, followed by a series of assignments across district administration and state government departments.
Experience in District Administration
Ghosh has served as Deputy Commissioner in Karnataka, including in Uttara Kannada and Kalaburagi.
During his tenure in district administration, he was responsible for a wide range of functions linked to land revenue, public administration and district-level development.
Records of his Karnataka service show that he served as Deputy Commissioner of Uttara Kannada from 2014 to 2016. He later served as Deputy Commissioner of Kalaburagi.
His work at the district level gave him experience in managing administration directly at the field level, before he moved into wider state and central government responsibilities.
A Wide Range of Karnataka Assignments
Over the course of his career, Ghosh has handled several administrative responsibilities in Karnataka.
His documented assignments include roles such as Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayats, Additional Commissioner, Additional Chief Electoral Officer, Executive Director, Managing Director, Commissioner and Secretary (E-Governance).
He also served in roles connected with finance, urban administration, personnel and administrative reforms, and local governance.
His career has therefore covered several areas of public administration rather than being limited to one department or sector.
From State Administration to Commerce Ministry
Ghosh subsequently moved to the Centre on deputation and joined the Department of Commerce as Joint Secretary.
The move brought his administrative experience into the field of trade and export-related policy. In June 2026, he participated in a Department of Commerce interaction with exporters in Kochi, where discussions covered agricultural exports, marine products, export promotion bodies and opportunities emerging from free trade agreements.
His latest additional charge at the EIC now connects his central government responsibilities more directly with export inspection and quality control.
Why the EIC Role Matters
Export quality and certification play an important role in ensuring that Indian products meet the requirements of overseas markets.
The EIC provides inspection and certification services for export commodities, including food products, and works through its field organisation and Export Inspection Agencies. Its functions also include food-safety certification and certificates of origin under preferential trade arrangements.
Ghosh’s six-month additional charge therefore comes at a point where export quality assurance remains an important part of India’s broader trade facilitation system.
His appointment adds another responsibility to the portfolio of a senior IAS officer already working in the Department of Commerce.
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