Deputy-bureaucrat, digital-innovation champion, specialist in land governance and cooperative development.
1. Early Life & Education
Born in Kerala (exact date not publicly listed), D. Sajith Babu pursued higher studies in Kerala Agricultural University, earning a PhD in Agronomy (2010) and an MA in Personnel Management (ildm.kerala.gov.in, newindianexpress.com). His academic foundation set him on a path to fuse governance with scientific clarity and administrative rigor.
2. Entry into Civil Services & Early Career
2020 saw his induction into the IAS (Kerala cadre, batch 2012). Over the years, he has held prominent positions like:
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District Collector of Kasaragod
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Civil Supplies Commissioner, Kerala
Notably, as Kasaragod Collector during the COVID‑19 crisis (April 2020), he rapidly rolled out systematic containment measures—ward-based task forces, GIS-monitored quarantine, and telemedicine—earning praise for effective district-level pandemic management (newindianexpress.com, thenewsminute.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com).
3. Pioneer of Land Governance
Dr. Sajith Babu authored A Prelude to Kerala Land Revenue Manual, a well-researched, 923-page e-book explaining over 500 technical terms in accessible language. It stands as the first comprehensive land governance reference since the state's formation in 1956 (newindianexpress.com). It received acclaim for demystifying land laws for citizens, officials, and students alike.
4. Digital Governance & E‑Governance Awards
His specialization in tech-driven administration earned him:
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National e‑Governance Gold Award,
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"Best e‑Goverened District" Award for Kasaragod,
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Shortlisting for the PM’s Public Service Delivery Award (newindianexpress.com, english.mathrubhumi.com, indianmasterminds.com).
These accolades recognize his leadership in digitizing land records, supply chain management, and public service platforms.
5. Current Roles & Responsibilities (2024–2025)
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Civil Supplies Commissioner, followed by service as State Mission Director for the National AYUSH Mission (newindianexpress.com).
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Appointed Registrar of Co‑operative Societies, Kerala, driving cooperative digitization and governance (linkedin.com).
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Additionally, appointed Special Secretary (Revenue–Devaswom)—a key department managing temples and religious institutions (english.mathrubhumi.com).
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Recently, joined the Institute of Management in Government, Kerala as Associate Fellow for a year-long deputation (x.com).
6. Recent News & Controversies
a) Suspension & Reinstatement
In February 2025, while Dr. Sajith Babu moved into the Revenue Department, the Kerala government shuffled several IAS officers, including him. That reshuffle followed heated controversies involving two colleagues (Prasanth & Gopalakrishnan), who were suspended over allegedly forming "religion-based WhatsApp groups" (english.mathrubhumi.com).
Although Dr. Babu was not personally implicated, his simultaneous appointment as Special Secretary, Revenue–Devaswom, came amid departmental tensions and public speculation—fueling a modest controversy regarding cadres management.
b) Media & Political Scrutiny
While his own tenure remains clean, Dr. Babu’s appointment coincided with media narratives criticizing the Kerala government’s perceived politicization of service postings. Reports, such as on Newslaundry, shed light on intra-IAS group dynamics and public speculation around his new charge .
7. Leadership Style & Vision
Dr. Babu’s hallmark is “lucid administration and digital clarity.” His initiatives are guided by:
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Citizen-centric clarity — translating technical governance into plain language.
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Tech-enabled transparency — implementing e‑District, digital co‑op registration, telemedicine, GIS monitoring.
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Collaborative innovation — working with cooperatives, NGOs, and global agencies to modernize agriculture, finance, and rural development .
8. Personal Profile & Interests
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Educational Achievements: PhD Agronomy, MA Personnel Management.
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Scholarly Interests: Land reform, agritech, governance innovation.
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Professional Interests: Cooperative development, policy-industry coordination, digital transformation.
Social media presence (X/Twitter): @sajithrevenuedc where he shares updates from the Institute of Management in Government (x.com).
He occasionally posts on LinkedIn, highlighting cooperative governance—e.g., launching Kerala’s "Coop‑Mark" and modernizing PACS systems (linkedin.com).
9. Top Interesting Facts
Fact | Details |
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Land manual pioneer | Authored the first Kerala-specific land revenue manual in 2022. (indianmasterminds.com, newindianexpress.com, kcdwfb.com, english.mathrubhumi.com) |
COVID highlight | Spearheaded Kasaragod's pandemic response early in 2020. |
Award-winning innovator | Won prestigious national e-governance awards. |
Cooperative catalyst | Central in co-op digitization & ‘Coop‑Mark’ digital branding. |
Academic contributor | Holds a PhD from Kerala Agricultural University. |
🙋 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is Dr. Sajith Babu’s educational background?
He holds a PhD in Agronomy and an MA in Personnel Management, both from Kerala Agricultural University (ildm.kerala.gov.in).
2. Which e-book did he author?
“A Prelude to Kerala Land Revenue Manual”, a comprehensive, 923-page e-book published in 2022 .
3. What digital initiatives is he known for?
He implemented Kerala’s e-District, digital land records, GIS-based pandemic monitoring, and cooperative registration systems.
4. What recent positions has he held?
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Special Secretary, Revenue–Devaswom
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Registrar, Co‑operative Societies
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State Mission Director, National AYUSH Mission
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Associate Fellow, Institute of Management in Government (newindianexpress.com, english.mathrubhumi.com, instagram.com, x.com)
5. Has he been involved in any controversies?
No direct allegations against his integrity. However, his elevation coincided with broader IAS cadre controversies surrounding “religious-based WhatsApp groups,” generating public and media interest (english.mathrubhumi.com).
6. Where can I follow his updates?
On X/Twitter: @sajithrevenuedc, and occasionally on LinkedIn. (x.com)
Final take:
Dr. D. Sajith Babu shines as a visionary bureaucrat who merges academic rigor, digital innovation, and citizen-friendly reforms. From pioneering the Kerala land manual to guiding co‑operative modernization, his contributions are progressive and people-centric. While not embroiled personally in controversies, his career reflects the complexities of administrative leadership in a politically active state. With integrity and innovation at the fore, Dr. Sajith Babu stands out as one of Kerala’s forward-thinking IAS officers in the digital age.
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