Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NEWDELHI2788
2007-06-14 12:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
NEW UNION CABINET SECRETARY: K.M. CHANDRASEKHAR
how-toVZCZCXRO5169 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHNE #2788/01 1651208 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 141208Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6271 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6293 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2178 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5088 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4887 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7023 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHMFISS/HQ USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002788
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, DRL, INR/B
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR IN
SUBJECT: NEW UNION CABINET SECRETARY: K.M. CHANDRASEKHAR
Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
The Top Bureaucrat
----------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002788
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, DRL, INR/B
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR IN
SUBJECT: NEW UNION CABINET SECRETARY: K.M. CHANDRASEKHAR
Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
The Top Bureaucrat
--------------
1. (C) On June 14, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh named former
Revenue Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, K.M.
Chandrasekhar, as Union Cabinet Secretary. A member of the
1970 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) --
Kerala Cadre, Chandrasekhar now holds the highest ranking
bureaucratic post in the government. During his two year
tenure, Chandrasekhar will responsible for the appointment
and transfer of all IAS officers. Additionally, he will
coordinate and act as facilitator among Cabinet Ministers.
Professional Background
--------------
2. (C) Known for his intelligence and honesty, Chandrasekhar
has 37 years of experience in the IAS. He spent the early
part of his career in Kerala (1971-1996),where he was
recognized for innovation. As Civil Supplies Secretary, he
launched the public sector, "Maveli Stores," retailing
essential goods at below market prices. As Fisheries
Secretary, he launched the "Matsya Fed," a state sponsored
SIPDIS
cooperative extending credit to traditional fishermen. As
Industries Secretary, he played a key role in setting up one
of South India's first software technology parks,
"Technopark." His last job in Kerala was as Finance Minister.
3. (C) In 1996, Chandrasekhar moved to Delhi to serve as
Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade Policy
Division. Interested in global trade and economic issues, he
left India in 1999 for Brussels to serve as Deputy Chief of
Mission at the Indian Embassy. There he worked on economic
and commercial issues relating to the EU, Belgium and
Luxembourg. His major break came during his Brussels tenure
(1999-2001),when he briefed and advised former Commerce
Minister Murasoli Maran, a fellow South Indian, on WTO
negotiations. In 2001, Maran elevated Chandrasekhar to
India's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the WTO,
based in Geneva. He served there until 2004. (Note:
Chandrasekhar has attended all the WTO Ministerial
Conferences ) Singapore (1996),Geneva (1998),Seattle
(1999),Doha (2001) and Cancun (2003). End Note.). After
Geneva, Chandrasekhar returned to India as Revenue Secretary
in the Ministry of Finance (2004-2007),and ensured
consistent high performance in revenue collection while
ushering in systemic changes in revenue administration,
procedures and policy. Throughout his career, Chandrasekhar
has been Chairman/Chief Executive/Director of more than 40
public and private sector companies in India, including
Chairing the
Spices Board of India.
Almost a USG Guest
--------------
4. (C) In 1994, the Consulate in Chennai nominated
Chandrashekar for an International Visitor Leadership Program
(IVLP). At that time, he was serving as Finance Secretary to
the Government of Kerala. Unfortunately, he was unable to go
to the U.S. because of a GOI objection to IAS participation
in the IVLP program.
Education and Personal Background
--------------
5. (C) Born on February 20, 1948, as the only son of a
railway officer in an upper caste Hindu family in Trichur,
Chandrasekhar received a Bachelor's Degree with honors in
Economics, History, and Psychology and a Masters Degree in
History from the University of Delhi. Union Minister Kapil
Sibal was his classmate at St. Stephen's College, Delhi
University. While in the IAS, Chandrasekhar earned a Masters
in Public Administration from the University of Leeds, United
NEW DELHI 00002788 002 OF 002
Kingdom.
6. (C) Chandrasekhar is married to Jaya from Trichy, Tamil
Nadu. They have a daughter, Preethy, who lives in Bangalore.
Their other daughter Priya, a journalist, died in a car
accident. In his spare time, Chandrasekhar enjoys reading
astronomy and philosophy. He speaks excellent English,
Hindu, and Malyalam, his mother tongue. He also speaks some
Tamil and has learned some Sanskrit.
7. (U) This message has been coordinated with ConGen Chennai.
MULFORD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, DRL, INR/B
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR IN
SUBJECT: NEW UNION CABINET SECRETARY: K.M. CHANDRASEKHAR
Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
The Top Bureaucrat
--------------
1. (C) On June 14, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh named former
Revenue Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, K.M.
Chandrasekhar, as Union Cabinet Secretary. A member of the
1970 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) --
Kerala Cadre, Chandrasekhar now holds the highest ranking
bureaucratic post in the government. During his two year
tenure, Chandrasekhar will responsible for the appointment
and transfer of all IAS officers. Additionally, he will
coordinate and act as facilitator among Cabinet Ministers.
Professional Background
--------------
2. (C) Known for his intelligence and honesty, Chandrasekhar
has 37 years of experience in the IAS. He spent the early
part of his career in Kerala (1971-1996),where he was
recognized for innovation. As Civil Supplies Secretary, he
launched the public sector, "Maveli Stores," retailing
essential goods at below market prices. As Fisheries
Secretary, he launched the "Matsya Fed," a state sponsored
SIPDIS
cooperative extending credit to traditional fishermen. As
Industries Secretary, he played a key role in setting up one
of South India's first software technology parks,
"Technopark." His last job in Kerala was as Finance Minister.
3. (C) In 1996, Chandrasekhar moved to Delhi to serve as
Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade Policy
Division. Interested in global trade and economic issues, he
left India in 1999 for Brussels to serve as Deputy Chief of
Mission at the Indian Embassy. There he worked on economic
and commercial issues relating to the EU, Belgium and
Luxembourg. His major break came during his Brussels tenure
(1999-2001),when he briefed and advised former Commerce
Minister Murasoli Maran, a fellow South Indian, on WTO
negotiations. In 2001, Maran elevated Chandrasekhar to
India's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the WTO,
based in Geneva. He served there until 2004. (Note:
Chandrasekhar has attended all the WTO Ministerial
Conferences ) Singapore (1996),Geneva (1998),Seattle
(1999),Doha (2001) and Cancun (2003). End Note.). After
Geneva, Chandrasekhar returned to India as Revenue Secretary
in the Ministry of Finance (2004-2007),and ensured
consistent high performance in revenue collection while
ushering in systemic changes in revenue administration,
procedures and policy. Throughout his career, Chandrasekhar
has been Chairman/Chief Executive/Director of more than 40
public and private sector companies in India, including
Chairing the
Spices Board of India.
Almost a USG Guest
--------------
4. (C) In 1994, the Consulate in Chennai nominated
Chandrashekar for an International Visitor Leadership Program
(IVLP). At that time, he was serving as Finance Secretary to
the Government of Kerala. Unfortunately, he was unable to go
to the U.S. because of a GOI objection to IAS participation
in the IVLP program.
Education and Personal Background
--------------
5. (C) Born on February 20, 1948, as the only son of a
railway officer in an upper caste Hindu family in Trichur,
Chandrasekhar received a Bachelor's Degree with honors in
Economics, History, and Psychology and a Masters Degree in
History from the University of Delhi. Union Minister Kapil
Sibal was his classmate at St. Stephen's College, Delhi
University. While in the IAS, Chandrasekhar earned a Masters
in Public Administration from the University of Leeds, United
NEW DELHI 00002788 002 OF 002
Kingdom.
6. (C) Chandrasekhar is married to Jaya from Trichy, Tamil
Nadu. They have a daughter, Preethy, who lives in Bangalore.
Their other daughter Priya, a journalist, died in a car
accident. In his spare time, Chandrasekhar enjoys reading
astronomy and philosophy. He speaks excellent English,
Hindu, and Malyalam, his mother tongue. He also speaks some
Tamil and has learned some Sanskrit.
7. (U) This message has been coordinated with ConGen Chennai.
MULFORD