Senior IAS officer S. Harikishore, belonging to the 2008 Kerala cadre, has been appointed as the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. His appointment, approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), is for a tenure of five years or until further orders. This central deputation move is part of a broader administrative restructuring intended to strengthen leadership and operational efficiency across key government departments.
Mr. Harikishore previously served as Director of Kerala Tourism and is regarded for his strategic interventions that helped elevate Kerala’s position as a leading global tourism destination. Most recently, he was serving as Secretary of the Information and Public Relations Department, while also holding additional responsibilities in the Programme Implementation Evaluation and Monitoring Department (PIEMD), NORKA, and as Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister. He has also held pivotal assignments including District Collector of Pathanamthitta, Executive Director of Kudumbashree for five years, Managing Director of KSIDC, and senior administrative roles in the Industries and Commerce Department, Mining and Geology, and Public Relations. His tenure as Director of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Department was marked by impactful welfare and empowerment programmes.
Hailing from Cherukunnu in Kannur district, Harikishore distinguished himself early with academic excellence. He secured the first rank in Mechanical Engineering from Kannur University and later completed his Masters at IIT Kanpur with a GE Foundation Scholarship. Before joining the civil services, he taught at Amrita School of Engineering. He achieved an impressive All India Rank of 14 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2008, which marked the beginning of his administrative career. His early postings as Assistant Collector in Kollam and as Sub-Collector in Chengannur and Mananthavady were notable for their commitment to efficient public service delivery. He is also the author of the inspirational book Ningalkum IAS Nedam, which has encouraged many young aspirants in Kerala to pursue careers in the civil services.
As Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Harikishore is expected to play a crucial role in strengthening India’s tourism strategies, enhancing international and domestic promotion efforts, and advancing sustainable and community-based tourism development. His understanding of tourism systems, stakeholder networks, and destination branding is likely to contribute significantly to India’s efforts to position itself competitively in the global tourism landscape. The Kerala Government has formally relieved him from state cadre duties, and he is set to assume office in New Delhi shortly.
