Dr. N Saravana Kumar, a senior IAS officer from the 2000 batch of the Bihar cadre, has officially taken charge as the Vice Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India. With a distinguished career spanning both state and central government roles, he steps into this prominent urban planning position with a wealth of experience.
Prior to his DDA appointment, Dr. Kumar was serving as Secretary of the Rural Development Department in Bihar, where he played a pivotal role in implementing statewide grassroots development programs.
A Multifaceted Administrative Journey
An academically accomplished officer, Dr. Kumar holds an M.V.Sc. in Animal Husbandry and a B.V.Sc. & A.H. in Veterinary Science, both with First Class honors. Since joining the IAS, he has served in a range of leadership roles across agriculture, education, food, consumer affairs, and animal husbandry.
In the Bihar state administration, he held several key positions, including:
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Principal Secretary, Food & Consumer Protection Department
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Secretary, Agriculture Department
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Principal Secretary, Sugarcane (Ganna) Department
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Director, Animal Husbandry Department
At the central level, he served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Human Resource Development (Higher Education) and as Private Secretary to the Union Minister in the Ministry of Electronics & IT.
Dr. Kumar has also garnered extensive field experience as District Magistrate and Collector in numerous districts of Bihar, such as Purnia, Samastipur, Supaul, Sheikhpura, Jamui, and Nalanda, where he was closely involved in governance, revenue management, and public service delivery.
Steering Urban Transformation in the Capital
As the new Vice Chairman of DDA, Dr. Kumar is set to lead major urban development initiatives, including infrastructure planning, housing, and land regulation in the National Capital Region. His deep understanding of both rural and urban governance uniquely positions him to drive DDA’s strategic vision for sustainable and inclusive urban growth.
His appointment has been welcomed by government officials and urban planners alike, who see his mix of grassroots experience and policy-level leadership as a major asset for Delhi’s development trajectory.
