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Sachin Kumar Vaishya Biography: From J&K District Administration to Leading the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board
In July 2025, Sachin Kumar Vaishya was handed temporary “additional charge” as Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, covering for a colleague’s training deputation while he continued his main job as Deputy Commissioner of Jammu.
More than a year later, he was still in the post, briefing Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor on a record pilgrimage season and a slate of major new projects at one of India’s most visited religious sites.
Sachin Kumar Vaishya is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the AGMUT cadre, 2015 batch. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, after earlier postings as Deputy Commissioner in several districts of the union territory.
Profile
| Full name | Sachin Kumar Vaishya (name formally corrected from “Vaishy” in 2024) |
|---|---|
| Born | Reportedly July 18, 1992, in Sangipur, Pratapgarh district, Uttar Pradesh |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Service | Indian Administrative Service (IAS), AGMUT cadre, 2015 batch |
| Education | B.Tech (Mechanical Engineering); M.A. (Public Management) |
| Current position | Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (since 2025) |
| Known for | Managing the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board during a period of record pilgrim numbers and major infrastructure expansion |
Early Life and Education
According to one published profile, Vaishya was born in Sangipur, a small town in Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh district; this detail has not been independently corroborated by other sources reviewed for this article. He holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Arts in Public Management.
He joined the Indian Administrative Service as a direct recruit through the UPSC Civil Services Examination, entering the AGMUT cadre, which covers the union territories of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and the other Union Territories, as part of the 2015 batch.
Career in the AGMUT Cadre: District Postings
Over his first decade in the service, Vaishya held a series of district-level postings in Jammu and Kashmir, serving as Deputy Commissioner of Leh and later of Shopian.
He went on to serve as Deputy Commissioner of Udhampur before being transferred to the more senior post of Deputy Commissioner of Jammu, succeeding Avny Lavasa.
A Name Correction in the Service Record (2024)
In 2024, the Jammu and Kashmir General Administration Department issued a formal government order correcting Vaishya’s name in his official service records, from the earlier spelling “Sachin Kumar Vaishy” to “Sachin Kumar Vaishya,” following a representation and legal deed filed by the officer himself. The order directed that his name be reflected as “Vaishya” across all official records going forward.
Leading the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (2025–2026)
While serving as Deputy Commissioner of Jammu, Vaishya was given additional charge as CEO of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board on July 19, 2025, covering for then-CEO Anshul Garg’s deputation to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration.
The arrangement, initially intended to be temporary, continued through 2026, with Vaishya remaining in the CEO role.
The Shrine Board, whose management of the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage site in Katra has continued for nearly 40 years, operates under the chairmanship of Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha.
Major Projects and Record Pilgrim Numbers
As CEO, Vaishya has overseen a period of significant growth and investment at the shrine. On January 2, 2026, he briefed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the unveiling of the Shrine Board’s Panchang Calendar for 2026.
At a Shrine Board meeting on February 9, 2026, he presented a progress report that led to the approval of a comprehensive Annual Green Plan and plans for a new helipad at Katra to improve pilgrim access and safety.
By April 9, 2026, Vaishya announced that a record 23 lakh (2.3 million) pilgrims had visited the shrine that year, telling reporters, as reported by NewKerala, “This number is two lakh more than last year.”
The Shrine Board under his tenure has also announced several large new projects, including an International Religious Museum dedicated to the Goddess, a modern pilgrim exit gate, a new Vaishnavi Bhawan targeted for completion by March 2027, and a planned Shankaracharya Temple.
On September 20, 2026, Vaishya attended a special Shrine Board meeting chaired by the Lieutenant Governor to review progress on the International Museum of the Goddess project.
Career Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Joins the Indian Administrative Service, AGMUT cadre, as a direct recruit |
| Various years | Serves as Deputy Commissioner of Leh and later Shopian |
| 2023 | Transferred from Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, to Deputy Commissioner, Jammu |
| 2024 | Official government order corrects his name from “Vaishy” to “Vaishya” in service records |
| July 19, 2025 | Given additional charge as CEO of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board |
| January 2, 2026 | Briefs the Lieutenant Governor at the unveiling of the Shrine Board’s 2026 Panchang Calendar |
| February 9, 2026 | Presents a progress report leading to approval of a new helipad and Annual Green Plan |
| April 9, 2026 | Announces a record 23 lakh pilgrims had visited the shrine that year |
| September 20, 2026 | Attends a special Shrine Board meeting on the International Museum of the Goddess project |
Sources
- Government of Jammu and Kashmir, General Administration Department — Correction in Name/Service Records of Shri Sachin Kumar Vaishy, IAS
- Indian Masterminds — J&K: 2 IAS Transferred; IAS Sachin Kumar Vaishy Posted as DC, Jammu
- JK News Today — DC Jammu Sachin Vaishya Given Additional Charge as CEO of Vaishno Devi Shrine Board
- Organiser — LG Manoj Sinha Unveils Panchang Calendar-2026, Official Diary of SMVDSB
- Kashmir Observer — Shrine Board Plans Major Overhaul to Position Vaishno Devi as Leading Spiritual Hub
- NewKerala — Over 23 Lakh Pilgrims Pay Obeisance at J&K’s Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in 2026
- Dainik Jagran — Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Announces Vaishnavi Bhawan, Shankaracharya Temple and Modern Exit Gate by 2027
- The Kashmir Horizon — Lieutenant Governor Chairs Special Meeting of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board
- StockLens — Sachin Kumar Vaishya: IAS Officer Profile
Zeez is the editor and founder of BioOrbit, where he researches and writes biographies of public figures from Nigeria and around the world. With 5 years of experience writing about news, entertainment, sports and politics, Zeez focuses on verified facts, clear sourcing and regular updates. Found an error? Report a correction.
