The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has appointed Santosh Kumar Sarangi, a 1994-batch Odisha cadre IAS officer, as the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).
Sarangi, who currently serves as Secretary, MNRE, will hold additional charge of SECI until further notice.
Sarangi’s appointment comes following the abrupt removal of Rameshwar Prasad Gupta from the CMD post on May 10, 2025, a month before his tenure completion. As CMD, Sarangi is expected to leverage his extensive experience in governance, trade, and policy-making to drive India’s solar energy expansion under the government’s ambitious Renewable Energy Mission.
Prior to his role in MNRE, Sarangi was Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, where he played a pivotal role in shaping India’s trade policies. His leadership at SECI is anticipated to accelerate India’s transition toward solar-driven sustainability, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to achieving its renewable energy targets.
SECI, a nodal agency under MNRE, plays a crucial role in the implementation of large-scale solar projects, including solar parks, rooftop solar programs, and international collaborations in the renewable energy sector.
With India striving to reach 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, Sarangi’s appointment marks a significant development in the country’s green energy roadmap.