The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has cleared the appointment of senior IPS officer Akhil Kumar (1994 batch, UP cadre) as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Digital India Corporation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). He will serve in the rank and pay of an Additional Secretary, marking a key bureaucratic move in India’s digital transformation journey.
A Green Signal from Centre and State
The ACC issued the appointment order late Monday night, after the UP Home Department granted its No Objection Certificate (NOC) in April 2025. The file is now being routed through the Chief Minister’s Office for final clearance to relieve Kumar from his current posting as Police Commissioner of Kanpur.
An IITian With a Global Security Lens
Kumar’s career reflects a rare blend of technology, security, and governance:
Academic Credentials: IIT Delhi alumnus, Fulbright Scholar, and MPhil in National Security Strategy (NDC Delhi).
Global Engagements: Director at MEA (2013–2016), overseeing counter-terrorism and cyber policy, UN Counter-Terrorism Advisor, and India’s representative at global multilateral forums.
Governance Portfolio: Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Jal Shakti (2016–2019), shaping water governance frameworks.
Police Service: Decorated with Presidential Gallantry Medals (2005, 2007) for operations against dreaded Chambal dacoit Nirbhay Singh Gujjar and other criminal gangs in Banda.
Field Commands: Held senior posts including ADGP Gorakhpur, SSP in Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Aligarh, and a stint with the UP STF. Served on the UN Mission in Kosovo (2004).
A Strategic Appointment for Digital India
In his new role, Kumar will spearhead Digital India Corporation’s vision of building robust digital infrastructure, fostering innovation, and driving ecosystem development across the country. His unique blend of tech background, security expertise, and administrative leadership positions him as a transformative leader for India’s next phase of digital growth.
With this move, the government underscores its focus on strengthening leadership capacity in digital governance — bringing together experience from policing, global diplomacy, and national security to shape India’s future in the digital age.
