P.K. Basu takes charge as Agriculture and Cooperation Secretary

New Delhi, Mar 2(ANI): Prabeer Kumar Basu on Tuesday took charge as the Secretary of the Agriculture and Cooperation Ministry. He replaces T. Nanda Kumar, who retired from service on February 28 on superannuation.

Basu is 1976 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre and has served in various capacities in the Bihar Government during his tenure, particularly in Finance, Industries, Agriculture and Cooperation and Energy.

The central tenure of Basu included postings in the Ministries of Power and Disinvestment.

He was appointed Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation from March 2007 to November 2009 before being elevated as Special Secretary in the Ministry from November 2009.

Basu has been instrumental in the conceptualization and implementation of flagship programme of the Agriculture Ministry, namely, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.

He has a special role in the revision of the Macro Management of Agriculture and drawing up the guidelines for the National Food Security Mission.

Basu also played a role in the efforts of the Agriculture Ministry to tackle the severe drought in various parts of the country during 2009 as Drought Relief Commissioner.

Besides agriculture, his area of specialization includes finance management, industries, power and energy. (ANI)