Union Power Minister Raj Kumar Singh has been elevated to Cabinet Minister rank from the earlier rank of Minister of State (MoS).
R.K. Singh was administered oath as Union Cabinet Minister by President of India Ram Nath Kovind on July 7, 2021 (see photo). Incidentally, it was on July 7, 2021 (at 12:01 hours) that India’s peak power demand crossed the 200-GW mark for this first time in history.
Singh has been responsible for undertaking radical reforms in both the conventional and renewable power sector. Grid management has also become much more efficient during his tenure. Besides, state government-owned discoms are showing promising signs of financial recovery, thanks to various initiatives undertaken by Singh’s ministry.
During his tenure, the solar power tariff dropped an to all-time low of Rs 1.99 per unit. Similarly wind energy tariff has also come down to below Rs 3 per unit in auctions for projects in India during his tenure as New and Renewable Energy Minster.
Bhagwanth Khuba has taken over as Minister of State in the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), while Raj Kumar Singh will now hold Cabinet Minister rank in the said ministry.
R.K. Singh: Career graph
Singh has been elected twice to Lok Sabha in 2014 and 2019 from Arrah in Bihar. He became Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power as well and New and Renewable Energy in September 2017. He held the two ministries till May 2019.
After his re-election to 17th Lok Sabha in May 2019, he retained the two portfolios. Besides he also got Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship as Minister of State.
Before becoming a minister, bureaucrat turned politician Singh was a member of many Parliamentary committees.
Singh had started off his career as an Indian Police Services (IPS) officer in 1974 and became Indian Administrative (IAS) officers in 1975. He was District Magistrate, East Champaran from 1981 to 1983 and also District Magistrate, Patna from 1983 to 1985. He also served as Director and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence, between 1991 and 1996.
He was also Home Secretary, Government of Bihar, from 1997 to 1999. He became Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, (2000 to 2005).
He was Principal Secretary, Road Construction Department, Government of Bihar from 2006 to 2009. He was also Union Secretary Defence Production from 2009 to 2011. He also held the post of Union Home Secretary from 2011 to June 2013.
Source: PTI/ ET Energy
(Featured photograph courtesy ANI/Times of India)
