B.V.R. Subrahmanyam (born 6 September 1962) is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1987 batch (Chhattisgarh cadre), currently serving as Chief Executive Officer and ex-officio Secretary of NITI Aayog, the Government of India’s apex public policy think tank.
Education & Background
Subrahmanyam holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Delhi Technological University. He later pursued advanced studies in management at the London Business School. Originally from Andhra Pradesh, he joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1987.
Career and Appointments
State and Central Assignments
Over a career spanning more than three decades, Subrahmanyam held several critical roles in both state and central governments:
- Served in the Prime Minister’s Office during the tenures of Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi, functioning as Joint Secretary and Private Secretary in different periods.
- In Chhattisgarh, he served as Principal Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary (Home), where he played a key role in managing internal security, coordinating counter-insurgency operations, and driving infrastructure and governance initiatives in Maoist-affected areas.
- Appointed Chief Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir in June 2018, where he supervised governance and administrative restructuring following the reorganization of the region as a Union Territory.
- Held the post of Union Commerce Secretary, Government of India, and later served as Chairman and Managing Director of the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) after superannuation.
- Represented India at the World Bank for a brief tenure during his mid-career years, focusing on development finance and institutional policy matters.
Chief Executive Officer, NITI Aayog
B.V.R. Subrahmanyam was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog on 25 February 2023. He succeeded Parameswaran Iyer in this role. In February 2025, his tenure was extended by one year by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
Key Initiatives or Focus Areas
As CEO of NITI Aayog, Subrahmanyam has steered several high-priority national initiatives. In 2025, he announced the forthcoming National Manufacturing Mission, designed to enhance India’s industrial capacity and global competitiveness through coordinated policy and governance reforms.
Under his leadership, NITI Aayog has continued to focus on long-term strategic planning, strengthening cooperative federalism, advancing innovation, and addressing critical sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, and climate resilience. His approach emphasizes institutional reform and results-based policy implementation.
Summary
B.V.R. Subrahmanyam is a highly experienced civil servant known for his effectiveness in governance, institutional transformation, and policy leadership. With a background spanning internal security, economic policy, international development, and high-level administrative reform, he currently leads NITI Aayog in shaping India’s long-term policy direction. As CEO and ex-officio Secretary, he plays a key role in advising the government on strategic initiatives and inter-ministerial coordination.