Draft:Suresh Kumar

Suresh Kumar Nangia is an Indian Administrative Service officer (Retd) and former Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Punjab. Over a career in public service spanning more than four decades, he has held key positions in the Government of Punjab and the Government of India, working across public policy, governance, economic administration, water resources, education, rural development, power sector reforms and cooperative sector restructuring. He has been associated with major state and national level policy initiatives, World Bank and UN assisted programmes, and has continued to contribute to governance and development discourse through research, writing and advisory roles after superannuation.

Early life and education

Suresh Kumar Nangia was born on 4 April 1956 in Sonepat, Haryana, India. He completed his graduation in Commerce between 1973 and 1976, followed by a post-graduate degree in Commerce from the University of Delhi from 1976 to 1978.

In 1994–95 he obtained a Master’s degree in Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics, University of London, with a specialization in education and rural development. His academic training laid the foundation for his later work in social sector policy, public administration and development planning.

Civil service career

Suresh Kumar joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and served in various field and secretariat positions at the state and central levels from 1983 to 2021. His career has spanned policy formulation, planning, implementation of reforms, public administration, financial management, project management and pro-poor development programmes at grassroots level.

He served in multiple senior roles in the Government of Punjab including:

• Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Punjab (17 March 2017 – 18 September 2021)
• Financial Commissioner Development and Principal Secretary, Water Supply and Sanitation (1 April 2013 – 8 December 2014; and subsequently Additional Chief Secretary (Development) with Water Supply and Sanitation from 8 December 2014 – 30 April 2016)
• Principal Secretary, Water Supply and Sanitation and Science, Technology and Environment (31 December 2012 – 31 March 2013)
• Principal Secretary, Local Government (19 March 2012 – 31 December 2012)
• Financial Commissioner, Cooperation and Principal Secretary, Technical Education and Industrial Training; Chairman, Punjab State Board of Technical Education and Industrial Training (2010–2012)
• Principal Secretary, Irrigation and Power, Punjab (26 June 2008 – 14 December 2009)
• Secretary, Irrigation and Power, Punjab (13 March 2007 – 25 June 2008)
• Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Punjab (19 December 2003 – 13 March 2007)
• Chief Administrator, Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority, Chandigarh (May 2003 – November 2003)
• Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Punjab (April 2002 – May 2003)
• Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Punjab (June 1999 – April 2002)
• Director of Technical Education and Industrial Training, Government of Punjab (May 1992 – March 1993)
• Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur (August 1990 – May 1992)
• Joint Commissioner, Excise and Taxation, Government of Punjab (February 1989 – August 1990)
• Additional Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar (February 1987 – February 1989)
• SDO (Civil), Talwandi Sabo (August 1985 – February 1987)

At the Government of India level he served as:

• Deputy Secretary (Training) (March 1993 – October 1994)
• Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Education (December 1995 – June 1996)
• Deputy Secretary, Elementary Education, Department of Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (June 1996 – March 1997)

He also worked with the United Nations system as Consultant and National Programme Manager for the UN System Community-based Primary Education Programme with UNDP, New Delhi (1997–1999), a joint initiative of UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNFPA and ILO implemented in eight Indian states.

Professional experience and focus

Throughout his career, Suresh Kumar has worked on:

• Public policy formulation and implementation in areas such as education, agriculture, rural development, power, water resources, taxation, cooperatives and local government
• Governance and public administration reforms, including business process re-engineering, administrative and financial restructuring
• Policy planning, programme design and project management in collaboration with international agencies including the World Bank and UN system
• Inter-governmental coordination and high-level governance issues as Principal Secretary and Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Punjab

He has dealt with key governance issues in agriculture, cooperation, education, power, industries, tax and economic administration, water resources, water supply and sanitation, urban local bodies and decentralised planning.

Prominent achievements

Suresh Kumar has been associated with a wide range of policy and programme initiatives in Punjab and at the national level. Some of his prominent achievements include:

• Formulation of the Punjab Anti-Red Tape Act 2021 to reduce compliance burden on citizens and lay down norms for speedier disposal of business in government
• Formulation of the Punjab Social Security Fund Act 2019, the Punjab Slum Dwellers (Proprietary Rights) Act 2020, and the Punjab Municipal Property (Management and Transfer) Act 2020
• Conceptualisation and formulation of the Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojna (MGSVY) in 2018 to ensure that the benefits of socio-economic schemes reach the most distressed and vulnerable groups
• Approval of the Second Punjab Rural Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Project for World Bank assistance of US $354 million (2015)
• Formulation and implementation of the Punjab State Policy on Rural Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation (2014)
• Successful implementation of the First World Bank aided Punjab Rural Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Project of US $154 million (2013–14)
• Preparation of a comprehensive Punjab State Agriculture Diversification Plan of Rs. 8775 crore, part of which was approved as the Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) by the Government of India (2014)
• Introduction and implementation of Core Banking Solutions (CBS) in State Cooperative Financial Institutions in Punjab as part of cooperative sector reforms, completed by 2015
• Formulation and implementation of policies and programmes for technical education and industrial training in Punjab, including a World Bank assisted programme for upgradation of Industrial Training Institutes
• Drafting of a new State Policy for Technical Education and Industrial Training to improve quality and bridge gaps between school and higher education
• Formulation and implementation of three major power generation projects: Talwandi Sabo Thermal Power Project (1980 MW), Rajpura Thermal Power Project (1320 MW) and Goindwal Sahib Thermal Power Project (540 MW) on BOO basis with private investment of over Rs. 20,000 crore (2007–2009)
• Conceptualisation and pursuit of projects worth Rs. 7352 crore for development of water resources (2007–2009)
• Preparation of a report on Business Process Re-engineering in Government as Chairman of the Working Group of the Government of Punjab (2008), highlighting simplification of processes and reduction of delays
• Preparation of the State Water Policy for Punjab to ensure equitable water availability and optimal utilisation of ground and surface water, identifying governance issues and required reforms (2007–08)
• Preparation and implementation of a Roadmap for Power Sector Reforms including restructuring of power utilities in Punjab (implemented in 2010)
• Preparation of legislation for Value Added Tax (VAT) in Punjab, implemented from 1 April 2005
• Conceptualisation, formulation and implementation of administrative, financial and structural reforms in the cooperatives sector in Punjab (1999–2002)
• Formulation, negotiation and finalisation of the UN System Support for Community-Based Primary Education Programme in India (1997–99)
• Conceptualisation and implementation of the Inter-State Teacher Exchange Programme under the Joint UN Initiative on Primary Education (1997–99)
• Heading the Elementary Education Division in the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, and dealing with management and supervision of basic education and literacy (1995–97)
• Authoring the Report of the Committee of State Education Ministers on implications of making elementary education a Fundamental Right (1997)
• Implementation of the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (Mid-day Meal Scheme) covering 110 million children in 5500 blocks (1995–96)
• Implementation of Operation Blackboard for improvement of school infrastructure (1995–96)
• Preparation of proposals for the Working Group on Elementary Education for the Ninth Five Year Plan, including several national programmes in elementary education (1995–96)
• Formulation and implementation of the World Bank Technician Education Development Programme in Punjab (1992–93)
• Preparation of the Punjab State Technical Education and Industrial Training Board Act, 1993, passed without amendment (1992–93)
• Formulation and implementation of in-service training programmes for IAS officers on restructuring of the Indian economy and use of information technology in government (1993–94)
• Formulation and implementation of training programmes on decentralized planning following the 73rd Constitutional Amendment (1993–94)
• Administration of the Integrated Rural Development Programme at state level and assistance to over 20,000 families below the poverty line through microfinance (1987–1992)

Education and training

In addition to his formal academic degrees, Suresh Kumar has undertaken extensive professional training in India and abroad, including:

• Addressing the Global Water Crisis – SDG Academy (2024)
• Ethics in Action – SDG Academy (2024)
• Debt Sustainability Framework for Low-Income Countries – International Monetary Fund (2022)
• e-Learning on Digital Agriculture – Open Learning Campus, World Bank Group (2022)
• Smart Cities for Sustainable Development – Open Learning Campus, World Bank Group (2022)
• Investing in Quality Infrastructure for a Green, Inclusive, and Resilient Recovery – World Bank Group (2022)
• Sustainable Global Food Systems – University of Edinburgh, UK (2022)
• Data for Better Lives: A New Social Contract – World Bank Group (2021)
• The Future of Work: Preparing for Disruption – World Bank Group (2021)
• Trading for Development in the Age of Global Value Chains – World Bank Group (2020)
• Writing for Social Justice – University of California, Berkeley, USA (2019)
• Unlocking Investment and Finance in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs) – World Bank Group (2019)
• Mid-Career Training Programme Phase V – Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie (2011)
• Global Perspectives on Governance Programme – School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, USA (2011)
• Programme on Agriculture and Rural Development – Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (2011)
• Training on Ethics in Public Governance – IC Centre for Governance, Panchgani (2009)
• Leadership Potential Seminar – Western Management Development Centre, Denver, USA (2009)
• Regional and international workshops and conferences on cooperation, literacy, education and governance in Nepal, Thailand, Mexico, China, Austria and other locations between 1994 and 2012
• Training in Energy and Development – TERI, New Delhi (1994)
• Training in Industrial Policy and Planning – IIM Ahmedabad (1989)
• Training in Computers and Information Technology – NIC, New Delhi (1988)

Honours, awards and memberships

Suresh Kumar has received several honours and has been associated with various organisations, including:

• Member, Board of Advisors, Global Policy Insights (GPI), a centrist public policy think tank (from December 2022)
• Independent Director and Member of the Board of Directors, Vardhman Textiles Ltd, Ludhiana (from October 2022)
• Independent Director and Member of the Board of Directors, United Phosphates Ltd (UPL) (from October 2022)
• International Policy Fellow, Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP), University of Cambridge, UK (2019–2023)
• Translation and Implementation Advisor, TIGR2ESS Project, University of Cambridge, UK (2020–2022)
• Member-convener, Inter-UN Agency Working Group on Primary Education in India (1997–1999)
• Member, Inter-UN Agency Working Group on Gender Database (1997–1999)
• Recipient of UK ODA Scholarship for M.Sc. in Social Policy and Planning at LSE
• Second rank in university in graduate programme (1976) with merit certificate and national scholarship
• Merit certificate from the University of Delhi for fourth rank in Master’s in Commerce (1978)

Papers and publications

Suresh Kumar is a prolific writer on public policy, governance, agriculture, water, federalism, economics and social development. His articles have appeared in national newspapers, journals and online platforms including Hindustan Times, The Tribune, Economic Times Government, Daily World, Millennium Post, The Print and others.

His publications include articles such as:

• Punjab's floods: A national challenge beyond politics (2025)
• Beyond good governance: India must embrace inclusive, strong and adaptive leadership (2025)
• Punjab on brink: From myths, misgovernance to reforms (2025)
• Indus Water Treaty sustains fragile hope of peace in South Asia (2025)
• From green revolution to sustainable evolution: India needs to shift gears (2025)
• Multiple essays on ethics in governance, electoral integrity, agricultural transformation, water governance, sustainable development, cooperative reforms and federalism between 2022 and 2025
• Earlier articles on climate change, food security, public policy regulation, COVID-19 and governance, agricultural diversification, financial inclusion and demonetisation between 2016 and 2021
• Research papers and policy notes including:
• Financing Agricultural Operations (2011)
• Obstacles in Children’s Attending School: Special Problems for Girls (1998)
• Papers on UN aid coordination, women and literacy, rural self-government and university education in third world countries

Language and computer skills

• Languages: English, Hindi and Punjabi (fluent)
• Computer skills: word processing, database and spreadsheets

Personal life and interests

Suresh Kumar is married and resides in Chandigarh, India. His interests include reading, writing, and sports, particularly cricket and badminton. He continues to be active in public discourse on governance, development, agriculture, water and policy reforms through advisory roles, lectures and writings.

Contact

Home Address: House No. 618, Sector 16, Chandigarh, India Phone: +91-9501015261 Email: sureshkumarnangia@gmail.com

Gallery

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  Suresh Kumar, and his wife Dr Anita Nangia with elder son Vaibhav and his daughter Roohi
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  Suresh Kumar, with wife Dr Anita Nangia and younger son Anish Nangia and his wife Shilpa.
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  Suresh Kumar and his wife Dr Anita Nangia with their elder son Vaibhav Nangia and his wife Anumeha with their daughter Roohi
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  Suresh Kumar and his wife Dr Anita Nangia