Who Is Satish Kumar, The New Head Of Railway Board?

Satish Kumar, the newly appointed Railway Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the first Dalit to head the organization in its 119 years of history. Satish Kumar is a 1986 batch railway mechanical engineer and is currently a member of the board. He will take charge on Sept 1 and will hold office till the date of his superannuation and re-employment on a contractual basis for the next year.

The order issued by the ministry of railway read, “The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Shri Satish Kumar, Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS), Member (Traction & Rolling Stock), Railway Board to the post of Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Railway Board”. It further added that his appointment is in the apex pay scale (pay level 17 as per the 7th central pay commission).

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Satish Kumar will replace Jaya Verma Sinha who has been appointed as Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) administrative member. Kumar’s approval came after the appointment committee of the cabinet headed by PM Narendra Modi decided to head the railway’s highest decision-making body.

The decision by the Ministry of Railway came at a time when Dalits and the quota system have become an important topic of political discourse.

Kumar is currently head of the issues related to the loco pilots and is reportedly considered a tough taskmaster. During his 38-year career, Satish Kumar has contributed to railway safety in improving the ‘fog safe’ device. he has also been involved with the new Vande Bharat Sleeper coaches and Vande Bharat Metro train projects which are in pipeline.