SRINAGAR: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Jammu-born Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Rajendra Prasad Khajuria as the Director of the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), India’s premier institution for training Indian Forest Service officers selected through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
A 1991-batch IFS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, Khajuria assumed charge as Director of the Dehradun-based academy on July 2. He succeeds Bharati, who retired from service on June 30.
Before his appointment, Khajuria was serving as Managing Director of the Andhra Pradesh Environment Management Corporation Ltd.
Originally from Jammu and Kashmir, Khajuria has more than 35 years of experience in forestry, environmental conservation and policy formulation. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto, Canada, and has served in several key positions relating to forest management and environmental governance.
He has also authored several research papers published in national and international journals.
After assuming charge, Khajuria interacted with the faculty and staff of the academy and reviewed its ongoing training and institutional activities.
The Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy is the country’s apex training institution for Indian Forest Service officers recruited through the UPSC.
