Rajnish Kumar, an Indian Railways Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) officer from the 1998 batch, has been appointed as the new In-Charge CEO of MeitY Startup Hub. With a career spanning over 25 years, Kumar has played a pivotal role in advancing initiatives aligned with India’s vision of digital empowerment.

A Mechanical Engineer by training, Kumar earned his Bachelor of Engineering from Malaviya National Institute of Technology (formerly Malaviya Regional Engineering College), Jaipur, in 1994. His career began with the Indian Navy as an Assistant Armament Supply Officer before he joined the Indian Railways in 1999. He furthered his expertise with a PhD from IIT Varanasi in 2013, focusing on enhancing procurement processes for locomotive manufacturers.

Kumar’s extensive experience includes roles at the Rajkot Division, Coach Maintenance Workshop in Lucknow, Diesel Sheds for locomotive maintenance in Lucknow and Ludhiana, and the Diesel Locomotive Works in Varanasi. His responsibilities ranged from production and machine procurement to spare parts management and planning. Additionally, he served as a faculty member in Information Technology at the National Academy of Indian Railways, Vadodara, and as Director of Vigilance at the Railway Board. Currently, he is with the National e-Governance Division at Digital India Corporation.