New Delhi, May 12—The Central government abruptly terminated the services of Rameshwar Prasad Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director of the Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI), more than a month before his scheduled tenure was to end.
The official order, dated May 10 and issued by the Personnel Ministry, did not explain the sudden decision. It stated that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) had approved Gupta's removal immediately.
Gupta, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1987 batch from the Gujarat cadre, was appointed to head SECI on June 13, 2023, for two years. He formally assumed office on June 15, 2023.
Before his role at SECI, Gupta served as the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. His appointment was a strategic move to bolster India’s renewable energy ambitions.
SECI, a Navratna central public sector enterprise, is critical in advancing renewable energy development and capacity expansion across the country.
No official reason has yet been disclosed regarding Gupta’s early termination, which comes at a crucial juncture for India’s renewable energy sector.