| File:Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog (33897600400).jpg
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| Office | Indian Emissary to the G20 & G7
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|---|---|
| Office | 2nd CEO of NITI Aayog
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| Term start | 8 July 2022
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| Predecessor | Piyush Goyal
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| Born | 1956-03-01 (age 70) |
| Born | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
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| Nationality | Indian
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| Spouse | Ranjeeta Kant
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| Alma mater | St Stephen's College, Delhi Delhi University Jawaharlal Nehru University |
| Occupation | Civil servant |
| Website | Template:Official website |
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Amitabh Kant (born 1 March 1956) is a retired 1980 batch IAS officer who[1] served as India's G20 Sherpa from 8 July 2022 till 16 June 2025[2][3] and as the chief executive officer of NITI Aayog,[4] a public policy think tank of the Government of India.
Early life
Amitabh Kant was born on 1 March 1956. He first studied at Modern School, Delhi, graduated with a degree in Economics (Hons.) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi[5] and earned an M.A. in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University.[6] He was a Chevening Scholar.[7]
Career
Kant began his Indian Administrative Service career in the Kerala cadre, working as sub collector of Thalassery,[8] where he carried out infrastructural work such as widening roads, removing encroachments, relocating the town's fish market from the town-centre to the beach area and initiating the Tellicherry Carnival for communal harmony.[9]
After his tenure in Tellicherry, Kant was appointed as the Managing Director of the Kerala State Co-operative Federation for Fisheries Development Ltd,[10] known as 'Matsyafed'. In this role, he is credited with introducing fibreglass boats and outboard motor technology in the fisheries sector, as well as launching beach-level auctions.[11]
As District Collector of Kozhikode (Calicut), he played a pivotal role in the expansion of the Calicut airport.[12] His efforts included revamping the Mananchira Maidan,[13] reconstructing the building of the Kozhikode Public Library and Research Centre,[14] and organising the 'Malabar Mahotsav' cultural festival.[15]
As Tourism Secretary in Kerala, Kant promoted the state as a tourist destination,[16] and is credited with popularising the slogan "Kerala: God's Own Country" during his tenure.[17]
After his term in Kerala, Kant was appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism in 2001, where he stayed till 2007.[18] During this time, he conceived the 'Incredible India' campaign through Ogilvy and Mather, intending to transform India into a sought-after tourist destination.[19] He also conceptualised and executed the 'Atithi Devo Bhava' (Guest is God) campaign to train taxi drivers, tourist guides and immigration officials.[20]
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".[21]
Kant was CEO of NITI Aayog from 2016 to 2022.[22] During his tenure, he chaired Empowered Group 3 for COVID-19 management and initiated national-level projects like Asset Monetization and National Mission for Transformative Mobility. Additionally, he advocated for natural farming methods. [23] In this role, he drove India's Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP), aimed at improving the socio-economic indicators of 112 of India's most backwards districts.[24]
He served as India's G20 Sherpa to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from 8 July 2022 till 16 June 2025.[25]
India Today's High & Mighty rankings of 2019 featured Kant as one of the most powerful people in India under the category of "The Supercrats - India's Top Bureaucrats".[26]
Publications
Kant is the author of books Branding India-An Incredible Story, Incredible India 2.0, Made in India: 75 Years of Business and Enterprise, The Elephant Moves: India's New Place in the World co-authored with Amit Kapoor and How India scaled Mt G20: The Inside Story of The G20. He is also the editor of The Path Ahead- Transformative Ideas for India and has written over 500 articles in leading Indian and foreign publications.
Honours
Controversies
In December 2020, Kant attracted controversy after remarking at a public event, organized by Swarajya magazine, that enacting "tough reforms" were hard in India, since it is "too much of a democracy".[28][29][30][31]
References
- ↑ NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant's tenure extended by one year. The Hindu(2021-06-29). Retrieved 2021-07-23.
- ↑ The face behind India's G20 prep: Sherpa Amitabh Kant(10 September 2023). Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ↑ Amitabh Kant resigns as India's G20 Sherpa, ending 45-year govt career. The Indian Express(2025-06-16). Retrieved 2025-06-16.
- ↑ India's startup movement is fast gaining momentum: Amitabh Kant. The Economic Times(15 August 2017). Retrieved 2019-10-30.
- ↑ Did you know these 6 top office holders in India went to the same college?(17 December 2018).
- ↑ Tourism Tales with Amitabh Kant. www.braingainmag.com. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
- ↑ Chief Executive Officer.
- ↑ Reviving Nostalgic Memories: DIPP secretary Amitabh Kant's journey to Tellicherry, his first posting. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
- ↑ Shine Bright{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Westland(20 May 2019)
- ↑ With another extension as Niti Aayog CEO, Amitabh Kant remains influential policymaker. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ↑ Cover Story. bindugopalrao. Hotelier India Awards 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ↑ Lunch with BS: Amitabh Kant(16 Jan 2016). Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ↑ How Mananchira became the pride of Kozhikode residents(3 June 2017). Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ↑ Library Council takes over Mananchira public library(31 May 2017). Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ↑ Shine Bright{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Westland(20 May 2019)
- ↑ The Kerala tourism secretary job was seen as a lousy posting: Amitabh Kant. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- ↑ The face behind India's G20 prep: Sherpa Amitabh Kant(10 September 2023). Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ↑ The making of an incredible story(21 June 2009). Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ↑ How a punishment posting for Amitabh Kant gave birth to Incredible India campaign(6 September 2022). Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ↑ Amitabh Kant gets two-year extension as Niti Aayog CEO(26 June 2019). Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ↑ Amitabh Kant: The intention is to make India a hub of manufacturing(15 February 2016). Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ↑ Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant gets another extension, till June 2022(29 June 2021). Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ↑ A man for all seasons: Here's what makes Amitabh Kant one of India's finest policymakers(17 March 2024). Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ↑ UN arm's report praises govt over Aspirational Districts programme(12 June 2021). Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ↑ Amitabh Kant set to be India's G20 sherpa. Hindustan Times(2022-07-08). Retrieved 2022-10-14.
- ↑ The most powerful people of India 2019 - Full list. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ↑ 令和5年秋の外国人叙勲 受章者名簿. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- ↑ 'Tough Reforms Difficult in India, We Are Too Much of a Democracy,' Says Niti Aayog CEO. The Wire. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
- ↑ Why Niti Aayog CEO's statement is a warning to the people. www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
- ↑ Niti Aayog's Kant denies saying India is 'too much of a democracy', Twitter users share event clip. Scroll.in(8 December 2020). Retrieved 2020-12-09.
- ↑ Hindustan Times withdraws report on Niti Aayog CEO's 'too much democracy' comment. Newslaundry. Retrieved 2020-12-09.