Santosh Kumar Sarangi is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer currently serving as the Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India. He assumed office on 18 April 2025, following a period during which the post was held under additional charge.
Education & Background
Sarangi is a 1994-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre. He holds a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Delhi and a Master’s in Public Policy from Duke University, United States.
Career and Appointments
Early and State-Level Roles
Sarangi served in various key administrative roles in Odisha, including as District Magistrate in Sundargarh, Nabarangpur, and Balangir. He also held senior positions such as Principal Secretary in departments including Science & Technology, Tribal Affairs, Tourism, Mining, and Education. Additionally, he served as Chairman and Managing Director of the Odisha Mining Corporation.
Central Government Positions
At the central level, Sarangi served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry from 2013 to 2019. During this period, he held additional responsibilities as Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Tea Board of India.
Subsequently, he served as Additional Secretary in the Department of School Education and Literacy in the Ministry of Education and held concurrent charge as Chairperson of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
He was appointed Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in January 2022, where he played a key role in managing and implementing India’s export policies.
In April 2025, Sarangi was appointed as Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for a fixed tenure ending in June 2030. In May 2025, he was given additional charge as Chairman and Managing Director of the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), pending the appointment of a full-time incumbent.
Key Initiatives or Focus Areas
As Secretary of MNRE, Sarangi is responsible for advancing India’s renewable energy goals, including achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. His work involves oversight of major initiatives such as the Green Energy Corridor, the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, and hybrid and round-the-clock renewable power projects.
His concurrent role as CMD of SECI places him at the center of policy execution and project development in solar and hybrid energy sectors. His focus remains on expanding India’s renewable capacity, fostering innovation in energy storage, and facilitating investment in green hydrogen and emerging technologies.
Summary
Santosh Kumar Sarangi is a seasoned civil servant from the 1994 batch of the Odisha cadre. With a diverse portfolio spanning education, trade, mining, and renewable energy, he brings over three decades of administrative and policy experience. As Secretary of MNRE and interim CMD of SECI, he is actively contributing to India’s clean energy transition and long-term sustainability objectives.