Santosh Kumar Sarangi Takes Charge As New Secretary Of MNRE

By Saur News Bureau/ Updated On Tue, Apr 22nd, 2025

Santosh Kumar Sarangi, a 1994-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre, has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India.

He is a civil servant with an extensive administrative experience across diverse sectors, including science and technology, international trade, education, tourism, mining, and tribal affairs. He holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Delhi and a Master’s in Public Policy from Duke University, USA.

His career includes grassroots administrative roles as District Magistrate in three districts, as well as several prominent national-level postings. These include Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Chairman of the Tea Board, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Education, and Chairperson of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

As he assumes charge at MNRE, Sarangi is expected to bring cross-sectoral insights and strategic foresight to accelerate India’s clean energy transition, promote innovation, and enhance sustainability and inclusivity in the renewable energy sector. MNRE, under his leadership, is likely to play a stronger role in positioning India as a global leader in clean energy and climate action.

Pradip Kumar Das, Chairman and Managing Director of the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), welcomed Sarangi during a courtesy meeting at the MNRE office. Das briefed the new Secretary on IREDA’s major achievements over the past five years and highlighted its role in supporting the government’s renewable energy targets through innovative financing and strategic partnerships.