In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Government of Gujarat has appointed senior bureaucrat Mr. Kuldeep Arya, IAS, as the new Secretary to Government, Industries and Mines Department (Tourism, Devasthanam Management, Civil Aviation & Pilgrimage). Mr. Arya, a highly regarded IAS officer of the 2009 batch (Gujarat cadre), takes charge of the state’s vital tourism, aviation, and pilgrimage portfolios following his successful tenure handling marquee infrastructure projects for the state.
Mr. Kuldeep Arya brings a highly distinguished academic and professional background to the tourism department. He holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Entomology from the prestigious Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, along with an M.A. in Applied Economics from Sardar Patel University and an M.A. in Economics from Anand University. Proficient in English, Hindi, and Gujarati, he has consistently driven major governance, urban planning, and infrastructure projects across the state.
Before taking over the tourism portfolio, Mr. Arya demonstrated extensive expertise in handling high-impact economic, administrative, and industrial development roles across Gujarat. As Chief Executive Officer, Special Project, he managed the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) and Mandal-Bechraji SIR. As Managing Director of Dholera International Airport Company Limited, he spearheaded key aviation infrastructure developments, and as Managing Director of Dholera Industrial City Development Limited (DICDL), he led project commissioning and coordination for the greenfield industrial city. As Additional Industries Commissioner, he played a pivotal role in investment promotion, enhancing the Ease of Doing Business framework, and orchestrating the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024. He also served as Additional Chief Electoral Officer, overseeing election governance, candidate expenditure monitoring, and implementation of the Model Code of Conduct during the 2022 Legislative Assembly Elections, and as District Collector, Gandhinagar, where he managed comprehensive land revenue administration, spearheaded the district’s COVID-19 response, and launched key welfare initiatives.
With his extensive background spanning industrial megaprojects, economic planning, and district administration, Mr. Arya’s appointment is expected to give a strategic boost to Gujarat’s tourism infrastructure, civil aviation connectivity, and the development of major pilgrimage destinations across the state.
