NEW DELHI: A bureaucrat par excellence, Amitabh Kant, who has to his credit several first-of-their-kind initiatives over a 45-year illustrious career, has hung up his boots. Before bidding a final adieu to bureaucracy and public service, he served as India’s G20 Sherpa, and prior to that, as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the government’s top think tank, NITI Aayog.
A 1980-batch Kerala cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Kant announced his decision to resign as India’s G20 Sherpa through a heartfelt post on social media, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accepting his resignation and for the trust placed in him in driving developmental initiatives that shaped India’s growth trajectory.
With his close associates claiming that Kant will definitely not stop here, as he still has a lot of energy and vision to offer, speculations are rife about his future plans. Many believe he might join the private sector, but nothing can be said with certainty.
However, Kant himself has expressed a desire to engage more with start-ups, think tanks, and academic institutions in a personal capacity.
“I now look forward to contributing to India’s transformational journey towards Viksit Bharat by facilitating and supporting free enterprise, start-ups, think tanks, and academic institutions,” Kant wrote on his X handle.
“After 45 years of dedicated government service, I have made the decision to embrace new opportunities and move forward in life. I am incredibly thankful to the Prime Minister of India for accepting my resignation as G20 Sherpa and for having given me the…,” he wrote in the X post.
“I am incredibly thankful to the Prime Minister of India for accepting my resignation as G20 Sherpa and for giving me the opportunity to drive a range of developmental initiatives and contribute to the growth, development, and progress of India,” he added.
Kant’s legacy as a bureaucrat includes a long list of accomplishments and notable positions held during his distinguished career. As NITI Aayog’s first CEO, he played a key role in shaping India’s development agenda. His appointment as G20 Sherpa in July 2022 further cemented his reputation as a seasoned bureaucrat, particularly during India’s G20 presidency.
In his home cadre, Kerala, as the Tourism Secretary, Kant promoted the state as a major tourist destination and is credited with coining the slogan “Kerala: God’s Own Country” during his tenure and popularising it.
Kant’s talent was quickly recognised by the Union government, and he was soon brought on central deputation and assigned the task of Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism in 2001, where he remained till 2007.
During his tenure in the Ministry, Kant conceived the ‘Incredible India’ campaign with the intent to transform India into a sought-after tourist destination globally. He also conceptualised and executed the ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ (Guest is God) campaign to train taxi drivers, tourist guides, and immigration officials.
Later, as the Secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Kant drove initiatives such as “Make in India”, “Start-Up India”, and “Ease of Doing Business”.
With all the accolades he earned as a bureaucrat, his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of bureaucrats and policymakers, his colleagues and close associates say.