Senior IAS officer Suman Billa has been named Director General (Tourism) in the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. A 1996 batch IAS officer from Kerala, Billa was previously serving as Additional Secretary in the same ministry before this promotion.
Billa brings extensive experience in the tourism sector. He previously served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism from 2014 to 2019, where he played a pivotal role in shaping national tourism policies. Following this tenure, he joined the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in Madrid as Director of Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Development, focusing on global sustainable tourism initiatives.
After returning to India, Billa served as Principal Secretary for Industries and NORKA in the Kerala government before rejoining the Ministry of Tourism in February 2024, succeeding Rakesh Verma as Additional Secretary.
His appointment is part of a larger bureaucratic reshuffle by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which saw 25 officers appointed to Additional Secretary-level posts and 15 officers elevated to the same rank.
