Amitabh Kant

Amitabh Kant
Amitabh Kant at the WTTC Global Summit 2017
Indian emissary to G20
In office
8 July 2022 – 16 June 2025
Preceded byPiyush Goyal
2nd CEO of NITI Aayog
In office
17 February 2016 – 30 June 2022
Preceded bySindhushree Khullar
Succeeded byParameswaran Iyer
Personal details
Born (1956-03-01) 1 March 1956
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
SpouseRanjeeta Kant
Alma materSt Stephen's College, Delhi
Delhi University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
OccupationCivil servant
WebsiteOfficial website

Amitabh Kant (born 1 March 1956) is a retired member of the 1980 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) batch, the All India civil service of the Government of India.[1] He served as India's G20 Sherpa from 8 July 2022 till 16 June 2025.[2][3] He is an Indian bureaucrat and the former chief executive officer of NITI Aayog,[4] a public policy think tank of the Government of India.

Early life

Amitabh Kant was born on 1 March 1956. He first studied at Modern School, Delhi, graduated with a degree in Economics (Hons.) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi[5] and earned an M.A. in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University.[6] He was a Chevening Scholar.[7]

Career

Kant began his Indian Administrative Service career in the Kerala cadre, working as sub collector of Thalassery.,[8] where he carried out infrastructural work such as widening roads, removing encroachments, relocating the town's fish market from the town-centre to the beach area, and initiating the Tellicherry Carnival for communal harmony.[9]

After his tenure in Tellicherry, Kant was appointed as the Managing Director of the Kerala State Co-operative Federation for Fisheries Development Ltd[10]., known as 'Matsyafed.' In this role, he is credited with introducing fibreglass boats and outboard motor technology in the fisheries sector, as well as launching beach-level auctions.[11]

As District Collector of Kozhikode (Calicut), he played a pivotal role in the expansion of the Calicut airport.[12] His efforts included revamping the Mananchira Maidan,[13] reconstructing the building of the Kozhikode Public Library and Research Centre,[14] and organising the 'Malabar Mahotsav' cultural festival.[15]

As Tourism Secretary in Kerala, Kant promoted the state as a tourist destination,[16] and is credited with popularising the slogan “Kerala: God's Own Country” during his tenure.[17]

After his term in Kerala, Kant was appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism in 2001, where he stayed till 2007.[18] During this time, he conceived the 'Incredible India' campaign through Ogilvy and Mather, intending to transform India into a sought-after tourist destination. [19] He also conceptualised and executed the ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’(Guest is God) campaign to train taxi drivers, tourist guides, and immigration officials.[20]

Later, as the Secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Kant drove initiatives such as "Make in India," "Start Up India," and "Ease of Doing Business." [21]

Kant was CEO of NITI Aayog from 2016 to 2022.[22] During his tenure, he chaired Empowered Group 3 for COVID-19 management and initiated national-level projects like Asset Monetization and National Mission for Transformative Mobility. Additionally, he advocated for natural farming methods. [23] In this role, he drove India’s Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP), aimed at improving the socio-economic indicators of 112 of India's most backwards districts.[24]

He served as India's G20 Sherpa to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from 8 July 2022 till 16 June 2025. [25]

India Today's High & Mighty rankings of 2019 featured Kant as one of the most powerful people in India under the category of "The Supercrats - India's Top Bureaucrats".[26]

Publications

Kant is the author of books Branding India-An Incredible Story, Incredible India 2.0, Made in India: 75 Years of Business and Enterprise, and The Elephant Moves: India's New Place in the World co-authored with Amit Kapoor. "How India scaled Mt G20: The Inside Story of The G20" He is also the editor of The Path Ahead- Transformative Ideas for India, and has written over 500 articles in leading Indian and foreign publications.

Honours

Controversies

In December 2020, Kant attracted controversy after remarking at a public event, organized by Swarajya magazine, that enacting "tough reforms" were hard in India, since it is "too much of a democracy".[28][29][30][31]

References

  1. ^ "NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant's tenure extended by one year". The Hindu. 2021-06-29. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  2. ^ Sharma, Harikishan (10 September 2023). "The face behind India's G20 prep: Sherpa Amitabh Kant". The Indian Express. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Amitabh Kant resigns as India's G20 Sherpa, ending 45-year govt career". The Indian Express. 2025-06-16. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  4. ^ "India's startup movement is fast gaining momentum: Amitabh Kant". The Economic Times. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  5. ^ "Did you know these 6 top office holders in India went to the same college?". India Today. 17 December 2018.
  6. ^ "Tourism Tales with Amitabh Kant". www.braingainmag.com. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  7. ^ "Chief Executive Officer".
  8. ^ "Reviving Nostalgic Memories: DIPP secretary Amitabh Kant's journey to Tellicherry, his first posting". Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  9. ^ Bansal, Rashmi (20 May 2019). Shine Bright. Westland. p. 292. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  10. ^ Special, Correspondent. "With another extension as Niti Aayog CEO, Amitabh Kant remains influential policymaker". 30 June 2021. The Hindu. Retrieved 23 April 2024. {{cite news}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ "Cover Story" (PDF). bindugopalrao. Hotelier India Awards 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  12. ^ Jacob, Rahul (16 Jan 2016). "Lunch with BS: Amitabh Kant". Business Standard. Business Standard. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  13. ^ I, Sreenath (3 June 2017). "How Mananchira became the pride of Kozhikode residents". OnManorama. Malayala Manorama. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  14. ^ Staff Reporter (31 May 2017). "Library Council takes over Mananchira public library". The Hindu. The Hindu. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  15. ^ Bansal, Rashmi (20 May 2019). Shine Bright. Westland. p. 292. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  16. ^ "The Kerala tourism secretary job was seen as a lousy posting: Amitabh Kant". Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  17. ^ Sharma, Harikishan (10 September 2023). "The face behind India's G20 prep: Sherpa Amitabh Kant". The Indian Express. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  18. ^ "The making of an incredible story". India Today. India Today Group. 21 June 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  19. ^ "How a punishment posting for Amitabh Kant gave birth to Incredible India campaign". exchange4media. exchange4media. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Amitabh Kant gets two-year extension as Niti Aayog CEO". Times of India. Times of India. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  21. ^ Mathur, Nandita (15 February 2016). "Amitabh Kant: The intention is to make India a hub of manufacturing". The Mint. The Mint. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant gets another extension, till June 2022". The Economic Times. The Economic Times. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  23. ^ Unknown, Surabi (17 March 2024). "A man for all seasons: Here's what makes Amitabh Kant one of India's finest policymakers". Money Control. Money Control. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  24. ^ Chatterji, Saubhadra (12 June 2021). "UN arm's report praises govt over Aspirational Districts programme". Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Amitabh Kant set to be India's G20 sherpa". Hindustan Times. 2022-07-08. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  26. ^ "The most powerful people of India 2019 - Full list". India Today. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  27. ^ "令和５年秋の外国人叙勲 受章者名簿" (PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  28. ^ "'Tough Reforms Difficult in India, We Are Too Much of a Democracy,' Says Niti Aayog CEO". The Wire. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  29. ^ "Why Niti Aayog CEO's statement is a warning to the people". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  30. ^ "Niti Aayog's Kant denies saying India is 'too much of a democracy', Twitter users share event clip". Scroll.in. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-09.
  31. ^ "Hindustan Times withdraws report on Niti Aayog CEO's 'too much democracy' comment". Newslaundry. Retrieved 2020-12-09.
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