In a major administrative development, senior IAS officer Dr. Srivatsa Krishna (1994 batch, Karnataka cadre) has been appointed as the new Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. He replaces V. Vidyavathi, who has moved to a new assignment.
Dr. Krishna is widely regarded as one of the most academically accomplished officers in the civil services, holding a PhD in Management, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a postgraduate degree in International Studies from JNU.
Before taking charge of the tourism portfolio, he served in several key leadership positions in Karnataka, including: Secretary, Commerce & Industry, Secretary, E-Governance, Secretary, IT, Biotechnology & Science & Technology and Chairman, Urban Administration & Development.
He has also held national-level roles such as CEO & Secretary of the Coffee Board of India, and governing board positions at IIT Madras and IIM Bangalore.
Dr. Krishna’s global exposure includes a senior strategy role at the World Bank Group in Washington D.C., where he worked across finance, risk, and development programs. He is also known for being part of the early team that laid the foundation of India’s e-governance movement and contributed to shaping the technology ecosystem around Cyberabad.
With his mix of administrative depth, technology expertise, and international experience, his appointment is seen as a strong signal that the government wants to accelerate tourism reforms, drive digital transformation, and strengthen India’s global competitiveness in the sector.
Industry stakeholders are expecting a renewed push towards infrastructure enhancement, sustainable tourism models, and policy streamlining under his leadership.
