Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Government of Kerala
Dr. B Ashok IAS
Personal Info
Dr. B. Ashok, IAS is the Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Government of Kerala, and a distinguished Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer with over two decades of leadership in public administration, policy, governance, and institutional transformation.
A member of the IAS since 1998, Dr. Ashok holds a Ph.D. in Media & Communication from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, along with Master’s degrees in Water Management and Political Science from the University of London and the University of Turin, respectively. Throughout his distinguished career, he has held several key leadership positions across the State and Central Governments, including Executive Director of a World Bank-assisted Water Resources Project, Deputy Director at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, Founding Vice Chancellor of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, and Secretary to the Government in the Departments of Power, Water Resources, and Agriculture.
An accomplished author and thought leader, Dr. Ashok has written seven books, including two bestsellers, and has published hundreds of articles in reputed peer-reviewed journals and leading newspapers. His contributions to public policy and administrative reforms have also extended to the legal domain, with landmark petitions that have influenced the governance framework for the appointment and removal of Vice Chancellors and the transfer rules governing IAS officers.
Recognized for his visionary leadership and commitment to public service, Dr. Ashok continues to play a pivotal role in shaping Kerala’s higher education ecosystem through policy innovation, institutional excellence, and transformative governance.
Designation :
Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Government of Kerala