New Delhi: The Centre has appointed Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) officer Satish Kumar as the chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, marking the first time an Indian Railways officer from the Scheduled Caste or Dalit community has held this position.

Kumar's tenure will begin on September 1.

He will succeed Jaya Varma Sinha, the current chairperson and CEO of the board, who will retire on August 31.

“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,” an order from the department of personnel & training (DoPT) reads.

Kumar is a 1986 batch of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME).

According to the Railway Board, Kumar’s distinguished career spans more than 34 years, with remarkable contributions to Indian Railways.

"His educational background is as impressive as his professional achievements; he holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from the prestigious Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), Jaipur, and has further enhanced his knowledge with a Post Graduate Diploma in Operation Management and Cyber Law from Indira Gandhi National Open University," an official from Railway Board was quoted as saying by PTI.

Kumar began his career with Indian Railways in March 1988 and has since held several key positions across various zones and divisions.

Over the course of his tenure, he has played a crucial role in driving innovation, improving efficiency, and implementing important safety enhancements within the railway system.