T Srinivasa Kumar Appointed Earth Sciences Secretary

The Indian government has officially appointed T Srinivasa Kumar as the new Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences. An expert in oceanography and a former head of the Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Kumar brings extensive experience in climate and oceanic research to his new role. The appointment was confirmed via a government order issued this Thursday.

Srinivasa Kumar previously served as the head of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System secretariat in Perth, Australia. His credentials include a foundational role in developing India’s robust tsunami early warning system. He succeeds M Ravichandran, who concluded his five-year tenure in May, bringing a wealth of technical expertise to a ministry critical for climate forecasting and disaster management.

The tenure for this position is set for two years. As Secretary, Kumar will oversee critical national research initiatives and interdisciplinary science projects within the Ministry. His appointment signals a continued commitment to leveraging scientific infrastructure for national disaster preparedness and environmental monitoring, with his immediate mandate focusing on sustaining the momentum of ongoing oceanic research and mitigation programs initiated by his predecessors.