Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, IAS (Retd.)

Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari is a distinguished former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1990 batch, Karnataka cadre, who retired as Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, in June 2025. During a career spanning more than 35 years, he held several senior leadership positions in the Government of India and the Government of Karnataka, contributing significantly to policy formulation, institutional development, public service delivery, and governance reforms.

He is widely recognized for his contributions to skill development, higher education, employability, digital learning, health, rural and urban development, textiles, media and broadcasting, and public administration. As Secretary, MSDE, he played a key role in advancing India’s skilling ecosystem, strengthening industry-academia partnerships, promoting workforce development initiatives, and supporting reforms aimed at enhancing employability and lifelong learning.

Following his retirement from government service, Shri Tiwari continues to contribute to public policy and institutional governance. He currently serves as Chairperson, Board of Governors, University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE), Bengaluru, and advises organizations on matters relating to higher education, skills, employability, digital transformation, governance, and public policy. He is also a Member of the Outside Expert Council (OEC) of ONGC and serves as a Member of Dispute Resolution Boards (DRBs) for major National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) infrastructure projects, bringing his extensive experience in administration, project oversight, and dispute resolution to the infrastructure sector.

Known for his institution-building approach, strategic leadership, and commitment to public service, Shri Tiwari has been associated with several large-scale national and state-level initiatives that have delivered measurable improvements in governance and service delivery. His expertise spans policy design, programme implementation, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, regulatory frameworks, and organizational transformation.

Educational Qualifications: MBA (Public Service – International), University of Birmingham (UK); M.Phil.; LL.B.; M.A. (Economics); and B.A. (Hons.) History.

Current Areas of Engagement: Higher Education • Skills & Employability • Governance & Public Policy • Digital Learning • Institutional Development • Infrastructure Dispute Resolution • Capacity Building • Leadership & Organizational Transformation.