Bhuvnesh Kumar Appointed Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Succeeding Srivatsa Krishna

Bhuvnesh Kumar, a 1995‑batch Uttar Pradesh‑cadre IAS officer and currently Chief Executive Officer of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), has been appointed Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. He will succeed Srivatsa Krishna, who has been reassigned as Secretary in the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Kumar brings over 25 years of administrative experience, much of it in technology‑driven citizen‑centric governance, to the role. As CEO of UIDAI, he has overseen the Aadhaar ecosystem, including enhancements in digital authentication, data security, and ease‑of‑use for citizens and government agencies. His tenure at UIDAI has positioned him as a key figure in India’s digital identity and public‑service delivery framework.
As Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Kumar will lead policy formulation, tourism promotion, and coordination with state governments, industry stakeholders, and international partners to boost domestic and inbound tourism. The appointment is particularly significant at a time when tourism is emerging as a major pillar of India’s services economy, with strong growth in both infrastructure and international arrivals.
His background in large‑scale, mission‑critical digital platforms is expected to support the integration of technology in tourism, from e‑visas and digital permits to real‑time visitor analytics and smart heritage‑site management, while strengthening marketing, sustainability, and crisis‑response strategies for the sector.