Gopala Sundara Raj (IAS) Biography, Wiki, Age, Wife, Family, Salary, Batch & Current Posting

Gopala Sundara Raj is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who belongs to the 2012 batch of the Tamil Nadu cadre. He is currently serving as the Collector of Ramanathapuram district, a coastal region in the southern part of the state.

He has been praised for his efficient administration, innovative initiatives, and people-friendly approach. He is also one of the most inspiring success stories of the IAS exam, as he overcame poverty, lack of resources, and social stigma to achieve his dream of becoming a civil servant.

Gopala Sundara Raj Wiki/Bio, Batch

Early Life, Birthdate and Education

Gopala Sundara Raj IAS was born in Mavila Thoppu, a small village in Ramanathapuram district, to a poor family. His birthdate has been shared in documents as 10th December 1984 (age: 39 years, as of 2023) His parents, who had only primary education, worked as agricultural laborers and struggled to make ends meet. They could not afford to send him to an English medium school, so he studied in a Tamil medium government school till class 10. He then shifted to a private school for his higher secondary education, where he excelled in academics and sports. He also developed a keen interest in civil services and decided to pursue his goal of becoming an IAS officer.

He graduated from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. He then joined the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi for his master’s degree in plant pathology. He also qualified for the Junior Research Fellowship and the Senior Research Fellowship from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. He was working as an agricultural scientist in Rajasthan when he appeared for the IAS exam in 2012.

Height, Weight

• Height: 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm)
• Weight: 70 kg (154 lbs)
• Eye color: Black
• Body measurements: Not available
• Skin color: Brown
• Hair color: Black
• Shoe size: Not available

Gopala Sundara Raj appointed as TNPSC secretary

Gopala Sundara Raj, a 2012 batch IAS officer, was appointed as the new secretary of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) on Wednesday. He will replace Dr. C. Munianathan, who has been transferred and posted as the chairman of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).

What is his new role as the TNPSC secretary?

As the secretary of the TNPSC, Gopala Sundara Raj will be the chief executive officer of the commission, which is responsible for conducting various examinations for the recruitment of civil servants and other posts in the state government. He will also be in charge of the administration, finance, and personnel matters of the commission.

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He will ensure the smooth functioning of the commission and its various departments, and implement its rules, policies, guidelines, and decisions. He will also coordinate with the chairman and the members of the commission, and the other stakeholders, such as the government, the candidates, and the public.

IAS Exam and Career

Gopala Sundara Raj cleared the IAS exam in his first attempt with an impressive all-India rank of 5. He opted for the Tamil Nadu cadre as his first preference, as he wanted to serve his home state and uplift the rural masses. He underwent training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie and the Anna Institute of Management in Chennai. He also visited Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand as part of his foreign exposure program.

He started his career as an Assistant Collector in Tiruvannamalai district in 2014. He then served as the Sub-Collector of Sivaganga district from 2015 to 2017. He was instrumental in implementing various welfare schemes, improving the law and order situation, and promoting tourism in the district. He also launched a mobile app called ‘Sivaganga Sevai’ to provide various government services to the citizens at their doorstep.

Gopala Sundara Raj was then posted as the Joint Managing Director and Project Director of Development Bank Projects in Chennai from 2017 to 2021. He was responsible for overseeing the implementation of various development projects funded by the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and other international agencies. He also coordinated with the central and state governments, the district administrations, and the private sector for the smooth execution of the projects.

He was transferred and posted as the Collector of Ramanathapuram district in June 2021. He has been working tirelessly to improve the socio-economic conditions of the district, which is one of the most backward and drought-prone regions in the state.

Gopala Sundara has initiated several measures to enhance the water resources, agricultural productivity, health care facilities, education quality, infrastructure development, and disaster management in the district. He has also been proactive in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, by ensuring the availability of oxygen, beds, vaccines, and medicines, and by creating awareness among the public about the preventive measures.

Achievements and Awards

Gopala Sundara Raj has been instrumental in implementing several innovative and impactful initiatives in his various postings. Some of his notable achievements and awards are:

• As the Collector of Tenkasi, he launched the ‘Thalir Thiran Thittam’ (TTT) scheme, which aimed at providing quality education and holistic development to the students of government schools. He also introduced the ‘Kudimaramathu’ scheme, which involved the restoration and maintenance of water bodies by the local communities. He also promoted organic farming, rural tourism, and women empowerment in the district.
• As the Collector of Ramanathapuram, he initiated the ‘Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme’, which provided financial assistance and health care to pregnant women and newborns. He also implemented the ‘Amma Unavagam’ scheme, which provided subsidized and hygienic food to the poor and needy. He also spearheaded the ‘Green Ramanathapuram’ project, which aimed at increasing the green cover and reducing the carbon footprint in the district.
• As the Joint Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, he has been responsible for ensuring the compliance and collection of taxes from the large taxpayers in the state. He has also been involved in streamlining the tax administration and facilitating the ease of doing business.
• He has received several awards and recognitions for his exemplary work and performance, such as the ‘Best Collector Award’ from the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the ‘Best District Award’ from the Ministry of Rural Development, the ‘Best e-Governance Award’ from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and the ‘Best Innovation Award’ from the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances.

Gopala Sundara Raj Marriage Life

Gopala Sundara Raj is married to Dr. S. Priyanka, who is a dentist by profession. They have a son named S. Gopala Krishnan, who is studying in class 2. The couple is known for their simplicity, humility, and generosity. They often visit the villages and interact with the people, especially the children and the elderly. They also participate in various social and cultural events and support various causes and charities.

He has received several awards and accolades for his outstanding performance and service. He was conferred the Best Sub-Collector Award by the Tamil Nadu government in 2017. He was also selected for the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2018. He was featured in the Limca Book of Records in 2019 for conducting the largest human chain rally in the country, with more than 2 lakh participants, to create awareness about the Swachh Bharat Mission. He was also honored with the Bharat Gaurav Award by the India International Friendship Society in 2020.

Gopala is an inspiration for millions of aspirants who dream of joining the civil services. He has proved that with hard work, dedication, and determination, one can overcome any obstacle and achieve any goal. He has also set an example of how an IAS officer can make a positive difference in the lives of the people and society. He is truly a role model for the youth and a pride for the nation.

Salary, Net Worth