Santosh Kumar Sarangi Takes Charge as MNRE Secretary

In a key administrative move, the Government of India has appointed senior bureaucrat Santosh Kumar Sarangi as the new Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). A seasoned Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 1994 batch, Odisha cadre, Sarangi steps into this role during a pivotal period in India’s energy transition journey.

Prior to his new assignment, Sarangi held the post of Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), where he was widely recognized for his strategic oversight in trade policy formulation and export facilitation. His extensive experience in governance and policy execution is expected to serve him well as he takes on the responsibility of steering India’s renewable energy mission.

His appointment arrives at a time when India is scaling up its renewable energy capacity to meet ambitious national targets and global climate commitments. The MNRE is at the forefront of these efforts, playing a critical role in policy development, infrastructure expansion, and fostering innovation in clean technologies.

As Secretary, Sarangi will be tasked with accelerating investments in renewable energy, promoting public-private partnerships, and enhancing India’s position in the global clean energy landscape. He is also likely to spearhead initiatives aimed at international cooperation and technological advancements, especially in areas like solar, wind, hydrogen, and energy storage.

Shri Pradip Kumar Das, Chairman and Managing Director of the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA), extended a warm welcome to Dr. Santosh Kumar Sarangi following his appointment as the new Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

This leadership change marks a renewed focus on strengthening institutional capacities within the ministry to achieve India’s goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.