BVR Subrahmanyam is appointed as the new CEO of NITI Aayog

Former Commerce Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam has been named the new chief executive officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog for a two-year term by the government. As Parameswaran Iyer joins the World Bank as an executive director in Washington, DC, Subrahmanyam will succeed him as CEO.

In September 2022, Subrahmanyam—a Chhattisgarh cadre IAS from the 1987 batch—retired from the position as secretary of commerce. As the economy struggled to recover from the post-Covid slump last year, Subrahmanyam played a critical role in developing the strategy that resulted to record $422 billion in merchandise exports during his one-year tenure at the department of commerce.

Also, he oversaw at least six free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. India signed two trade agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Australia while he was working in the commerce department. Subrahmanyam, who is regarded as an expert on internal security, formerly served as Jammu and Kashmir’s chief secretary.

The Appointments Committee of the Government announced Subrahmanyam’s appointment as CEO of NITI Aayog.

Iyer was appointed CEO of NITI Aayog for three years in 2022. He is an IAS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre and is from the 1981 batch. He was there for only around six months. Iyer had worked for the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation from 2016 to 20 as secretary.

Prior to joining the World Bank in 2009 as the global lead for strategic initiatives in the water and sanitation sector, Iyer had taken a voluntary retirement from the Indian Administrative Service. In 2016, he came back to lead the Swachh Bharat Mission as secretary for sanitation and drinking water. After receiving a one-year extension, Iyer had resigned that position in July 2020, citing personal reasons.