In a recent development, Senior IAS officer Santosh Kumar Sarangi (1994 batch, Odisha cadre) has been assigned additional charge as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). This move follows the premature termination of Rameshwar Prasad Gupta’s tenure, just days before it was set to conclude.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy confirmed the appointment, stating:
“The competent authority has approved the assignment of additional charge of the post of CMD, SECI, to Santosh Kumar Sarangi, IAS (OR:94), Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, until the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders, whichever is earlier.”
Who is Santosh Kumar Sarangi?
Currently serving as the Secretary in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Sarangi is a seasoned bureaucrat with a distinguished career in both central and state administrations. He holds an M.Phil in Political Science and brings a wealth of experience in governance, infrastructure, and trade.
Some of his previous key positions include
Principal Secretary, Science and Technology Department, Odisha
CMD, Odisha Mining Corporation
Director General of Foreign Trade, Department of Commerce
Chairman, APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority)
Chairman, Tea Board, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
His appointment is seen as a strategic decision to ensure strong, experienced leadership at SECI — a critical institution spearheading India’s renewable energy transition.
About SECI
The Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI) is a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, established to implement the National Solar Mission (NSM). In 2024, SECI achieved Navratna status, empowering it to independently undertake investments of up to ₹1,000 crore without requiring central government approval.
