Ambassador/Permanent Representative
Profile
Dr SENTHIL PANDIAN C.
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India (Designate) to the WTO, PMI, Geneva.
Dr C Senthil Pandian is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of 2002 batch, Uttar Pradesh Cadre. He holds a
Masters and a Doctoral degree in Agriculture from Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. He also
a Master in Public Policy and Management (MPM) in King’s College, London. His areas of interest are agriculture
and economic policies.
Dr Senthil has a rich experience of working in both State and Central Government (Government of India) in various
capacities. In the State of Uttar Pradesh, he implemented Watershed Development Programmes including the
construction of check dams, promotion of drought-resistant crops and varieties to tide over the adverse conditions
in Agriculture. Having worked for three years in power sector, he designed major reforms in the State in power
Generation and Transmission.
As Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Road Transport and Shipping, he advised the Minister on policy
issues, formulation of new pragmatic policies and its impact assessment, ensure timely administrative sanction and
financial approval for projects pertaining to Road and Shipping sectors across the country, monitoring the progress
of the ongoing projects and ensuring intervention and mid-course corrections. In addition, providing all technical
in-puts, preparing concept papers with due analysis, ensuring inter-ministerial co-ordination for speedy project
delivery and rendering support to all matters relating to the Parliament with a special focus on introduction of new
Bills, amendments to existing Acts etc.,
He worked in the Ministry of External Affairs as Head of the Branch Secretariat, Chennai, and accumulated a vast
experience of interacting and coordinating with Missions and Posts abroad, apart from dealing with consular
legalization services and crisis management, during evacuation and repatriation of Indian nationals.
As Regional Passport Officer, Chennai, he successfully implemented the Passport service projects under the National
e-Governance Policy of the Government of India. Three Passport Seva Kendras (Passport Service Centres) at Chennai
with best-in-class amenities were set up as an extended arm of Regional Passport Office, Chennai. This IT-driven
project has been transformative to deliver passport services to citizens in a timely and transparent manner and in a
comfortable environment through streamlined processes.
During his tenure as Excise Commissioner, he formulated three annual excise policies for the state for simplifying
trade and maximise the excise revenue. He streamlined the tax structure which enhanced compliance and reduced
the tax evasion. He introduced digital platforms and single window clearances for trade facilitation and ease of
doing business. Fostered collaboration between state government agencies and private stakeholders in
implementing the reforms and enhance their effectiveness in business thus, promoting economic growth.
He served as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India before arriving to
Geneva for this assignment.
Email: amb-indiawto@nic.in
