Prasanth Chandran is an officer of the Indian Economic Service (IES) from the 2007 batch. He holds a Master's degree in Economics, a Bachelor's in Education, and has qualified the National Eligibility Test (NET). He has had a diverse and accomplished career across various departments.
In his early career, he worked as a Research Assistant in the District Planning Offices of Wayanad and Trivandrum, Kerala, where he was involved in managing the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). He transitioned into academia as an Assistant Professor of Economics at CKGM Government College, Perambra, and later at University College, Trivandrum. In 2008, after joining the IES, he undertook probationary training as Assistant Director in the Department of Economic Affairs, followed by a significant stint as a Research Officer in the Planning Commission from 2009 to 2012, where he contributed to project appraisals.
From 2012 to 2015, Prasanth served as Deputy Director in the Ministry of Shipping, playing a key role in technical operations and tariff regulation at major ports across India. His leadership skills were further honed during his tenure as Regional Passport Officer, Cochin, from 2015 to 2019. Under his direction, the Cochin office was recognized as the best passport office in India for three consecutive years, and it was particularly noted for its exemplary handling of passport applications after the devastating Kerala floods in 2018.
From 2019 to 2024, he worked with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare as Director, overseeing restructuring of nearly two dozen centrally sponsored schemes into two major schemes viz. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Krishonnati Yojana.