Distinguished Alumnus Awardee 2021


Mr. Saurabh Chandra (BT/EE/1976)



Mr. Saurabh Chandra received his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur in 1976. Mr. Chandra joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1978 and was allotted the Uttar Pradesh cadre.He retired from the post of Secretary,Government of India, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in 2015. Prior to that, he was Secretary in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

In a public service career spanning 37 years, Mr. Chandra has held several prestigious positions, both in the state of Uttar Pradesh and Government of India (GOI). The experience gained in policy formulation and implementation is demonstrated by a long record of successful outcomes in multiple areas and diverse sectors like oil and gas, industry, disinvestment, foreign direct investment, intellectual property, district administration and execution of big projects. Specifically during his tenure as Secretary in the Petroleum and Natural Gas, major sustainable reforms, having far reaching impact were introduced in the oil and gas sector. Diesel deregulation is one example of a big reform led by him. PAHAL is another example. As the world's largest direct benefit transfer scheme, PAHAL finds a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. During his stint as Secretary in DIPP, major reforms were initiated in the FDI policy and intellectual policy regime. Earlier, while working in the Department of Fertilisers, Government of India, he was associated with the setting up of the Oman India Fertiliser Project, one of the most successfuL overseas joint ventures of Indian enterprises.

Mr. Chandra currently serves as a Public Interest Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited and an Independent Director on the Boards of SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd,Vacmet India Limited and JKCements Limited. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the School of Medical Research and Technology at IIT Kanpur.

Honoring his stellar contributions to public administration and formulation of public policy, IIT Kanpur confers upon Mr. Saurabh Chandra the Distinguished Alumnus Award of 2021.