The Institution of Directors (IOD) has honored senior IAS officer G Kamalavardhan Rao with the prestigious ‘Distinguished Fellow’ award. The award was presented by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal during a ceremony in New Delhi. A distinguished jury, chaired by former Supreme Court Chief Justice UU Lalit, selected Rao for this esteemed recognition, which is awarded to top-performing civil servants across the nation.
Kamalavardhan Rao is one of only three All India Service (AIS) officers recognized as changemakers with this award. He has been serving as the CEO of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for several years. The jury acknowledged Rao’s significant contributions during his tenure as Managing Director of the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and as CEO of FSSAI, where he implemented substantial improvements in government services.
As CEO of FSSAI, Rao played a key role in raising public awareness about food standards and consumer rights. A Kerala cadre IAS officer and a native of Andhra Pradesh, Rao has previously held various notable positions, including Chairman of the Tobacco Board, where he introduced farmer-friendly policies, and Finance Secretary of the Kerala government before transitioning to his role at FSSAI in Delhi.
Source : TOI