Interview with Mr. G. V. Venugopala Sarma

Mr. G. V. Venugopala Sarma served at the level of Secretary in Government of India as Member-Secretary of the National Disaster Management Authority. Over an administrative career spanning more than three decades across state and central governments, he held senior responsibilities in land revenue, internal security–related administration, and large-scale e-governance reforms, including visa systems.

Earlier, he held key field postings as District Collector in Odisha and served in Nagaland, gaining firsthand experience in conflict management, poverty alleviation, decentralised planning, and tribal welfare.

Since retirement, Mr. Sarma has remained engaged with public policy through research and advisory work, with a focus on disaster management, land governance, and institutional reform. A graduate in Physics from IIT Madras, Mr. Sarma has worked at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research before joining the IAS.