Mr.Nitin Ramesh Gokarn is a seasoned Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer with a distinguished career spanning over three decades. A 1990-batch IAS officer, Gokarn hails from Mumbai, Maharashtra, and holds a BA in Economics, an MA in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations from TISS, and a CFA from ICFAI. He began his journey in government service in September 1987, entering the IAS in August 1990, and was confirmed in the service by August 1992.
Nitin Ramesh Gokarn career has seen a diverse range of postings across multiple sectors and geographies. He began his administrative career with a stint at the Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, followed by roles as an Executive Magistrate and Assistant Collector in Shahjahanpur. He then undertook further training at the Administrative Academy in Dehradun before serving as Joint Magistrate in Deoria and Chief Development Officer (CDO) in Almora.
In the late 1990s, Gokarn held significant positions such as Joint Secretary in the Appointment Department of the Uttar Pradesh government, and District Magistrate and Collector in Firozabad* and Lalitpur. His expertise led him to the role of Secretary of the Coffee Board in Bangalore, under the Department of Commerce, *where he served from 2000 to 2004. During this period, he also pursued a postgraduate diploma at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore .
Returning to Uttar Pradesh, Gokarn played a crucial role in various departments, including Water Restructuring and Irrigation, before being appointed as Joint Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. He later served as District Magistrate and Collector in Varanasi, followed by a tenure as Secretary to the Government of Uttar Pradesh, overseeing the Information Department.
Nitin Ramesh Gokarn leadership capabilities were further recognized when he was appointed Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi, a role he held twice, first from 2007 to 2008 and then from 2015 to 2018. In between, he served as Director in the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
In recent years, Gokarn has held pivotal roles within the Government of Uttar Pradesh, particularly in the Housing and Urban Planning Department, where he has served as Principal Secretary and, more recently, as Additional Chief Secretary. His tenure has included responsibilities in the State Tax Department, Public Works Department, and Housing and Urban Planning.
As of May 2024, Gokarn continues to serve as the A dditional Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Planning Department in Uttar Pradesh, where he plays a key role in shaping the urban development landscape of the state. His career reflects a commitment to public service and a deep understanding of both state and central government operations.
He also earned his Ph.D. in January 2024 and has authored five books including his latest, ‘Gokarn Across Bharat‘, which explores Gokarn’s (Atmalingam or Soul of Lord Shiva) presence in Tibet, Nepal, Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Sri Lanka.
The book refers to the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Shrimad Bhagwat, Shivamahapurana, Lingapurana, Gokarn Purana amongst many other Sanskrit texts. The book shows that Ravana, Parshurama, Adi Shankaracharya, Krishna Deva Raya of Vijayanagara, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Ahilyabai Holkar and many others have links to Gokarn.
The virtual launch of ‘Gokarn Across Bharat’ will be on Facebook Live and LinkedIn Live at 5 pm on Sunday, September 8, 2024. Here is a video intro of the book by Dr. Nitin Ramesh Gokarn himself.
