Iyer has also authored a book titled ‘Method in the Madness – Insights from My Career as an Insider-Outsider-Insider’.
Former Drinking Water and Sanitation Secretary Parameswaran Iyer, who headed the Swachh Bharat Mission, was on Friday appointed as the CEO of NITI Aayog, as per a government order. He will replace Amitabh Kant, who will step down on June 30.
The Personnel Ministry order said that Iyer has been appointed for a period of two years or until further orders, whichever is earlier. According to the order, Iyer has been appointed on the same terms and conditions as were applicable to Kant.
A 1981-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Iyer is a renowned sanitation expert, and is known for spearheading the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s flagship scheme Swachh Bharat Mission between 2016 and 2020.
He took voluntary retirement from the Indian Administrative Service in 2009. He had also worked as a senior rural water sanitation specialist at the United Nations. Iyer became the third CEO of the government’s think tank. He has also authored a book titled ‘Method in the Madness – Insights from My Career as an Insider-Outsider-Insider’.
Kant, the outgoing NITI Aayog CEO, was instrumental in NITI Aayog’s policy formulation with focus on Digital India, asset monetization, disinvestment, Program Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme of aspirational districts and electric vehicles.
He was appointed as the CEO of NITI Aayog on February 17, 2016 for a fixed tenure of two years. Kant was later given an extension till June 30, 2019. His term was extended for two years till June 2021, and then was given another one-year extension till June 30 this year.
Read also | NITI Aayog Deputy Chairman Rajiv Kumar resigns; Suman Beri will take charge from May 1
Read also | ‘Double-engine’ government responsible: Tejashwi Yadav slams Nitish over Bihar’s NITI Aayog rankings