Dr. Srinivasa Kumar Tummala has a new title. On August 10, 2026, he officially took charge as Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). This makes him the top bureaucratic and scientific head of one of India’s most important science ministries.

He takes over from Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, who had been holding the post as an additional charge. Before her, Dr. M. Ravichandran held the position full-time. So this appointment finally gives MoES a dedicated Secretary again.

Who Is Dr. Srinivasa Kumar Tummala?

Dr. Tummala is an eminent oceanographer and scientist. He brings more than 30 years of experience to the role. His background spans remote sensing, satellite oceanography, coastal hazard mitigation, and disaster management.

Before this appointment, he headed the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS) Secretariat. This body operates under UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) in Perth, Australia. In that role, he directed tsunami warning networks across 28 Indian Ocean member states. He also led the global push to standardise ocean-watch operations.

A Career Built Around Ocean Science

Tummala’s career reads like a timeline of India’s ocean-safety infrastructure.

He started by helping build India’s Tsunami Early Warning System. This project began after the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which exposed major gaps in disaster preparedness. As Project Director, he helped turn this system into a globally designated Tsunami Service Provider (TSP).

Later, he became Director of the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) in Hyderabad. He held this post from August 2020 onward. Under his leadership, INCOIS expanded several key services. These included Potential Fishing Zone advisories, Coral Reef Bleaching Alerts, and multi-hazard vulnerability mapping.

He also championed the Tsunami Ready Community Recognition Programme. This initiative helps coastal communities prepare for tsunami risks at the grassroots level.

Appointment Details and Tenure

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved his appointment through an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training on July 16, 2026. According to that order, Dr. Tummala will serve as Secretary for two years from the date he assumes charge, or until further orders, whichever comes first.

This fixed tenure matters. It’s designed to give continuity to several ongoing scientific programmes at the ministry.

Why This Appointment Matters for India

Dr. Tummala steps into this role at a critical moment. India is scaling up several major ocean and climate initiatives, and his expertise lines up closely with each one.

The Deep Ocean Mission is expanding rapidly, and it needs strong technical leadership at the top. Climate modelling capabilities are also growing more sophisticated, which requires someone who understands both the science and the policy side. Early warning systems for maritime and meteorological disasters remain a national priority, especially for protecting coastal communities. Finally, India’s Blue Economy ambitions depend on sustainable, well-managed use of ocean resources.

Because Dr. Tummala has spent decades working across exactly these areas, his appointment brings specialised, hands-on expertise to the top of the ministry. That’s a meaningful shift for an organisation that handles everything from weather forecasting to seismology.

Recognition and Academic Contributions

Dr. Tummala’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2010, the Ministry of Mines awarded him the National Geoscience Award for his role in establishing India’s tsunami early warning infrastructure. Two years earlier, in 2008, the Indian Society of Remote Sensing honoured him with the Indian National Geospatial Award.

On the academic side, he has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers in leading international journals. He has also served as Vice-Chair of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, giving him a strong voice in global ocean-science policy.

Quick Facts: Dr. Srinivasa Kumar Tummala

Detail	Information
Current Post	Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
Date of Charge	August 10, 2026
Tenure	2 years from date of charge, or until further orders
Predecessor	Dr. N. Kalaiselvi (held additional charge)
Previous Role	Head, ICG/IOTWMS Secretariat, UNESCO-IOC, Perth, Australia
Earlier Role	Director, INCOIS, Hyderabad (from August 2020)
Key Awards	National Geoscience Award (2010), Indian National Geospatial Award (2008)
Publications	100+ peer-reviewed papers

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Who is the new Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences?

Dr. Srinivasa Kumar Tummala is the new Secretary. He’s an eminent oceanographer who assumed charge on August 10, 2026.

Q2. Who did Dr. Tummala succeed at MoES?

He succeeds Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, who had been managing the ministry as an additional charge. Dr. M. Ravichandran was the last person to hold the post full-time before that.

Q3. What was Dr. Tummala’s role before this appointment?

He headed the IOTWMS Secretariat under UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission in Perth, Australia. He also previously directed INCOIS in Hyderabad.

Q4. How long is Dr. Tummala’s tenure as Secretary?

His appointment runs for two years from the date he assumed charge, or until further government orders, whichever happens first.

Q5. Why is this appointment considered significant?

It brings deep, specialised expertise in oceanography and disaster management to MoES at a time when India is expanding the Deep Ocean Mission, climate modelling, and early warning systems.