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Kannan Gopinathan (IAS) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth12 December 1985

Age33 Years (as in 2019)

BirthplaceKottayam, Kerala

ProfessionIAS Officer (resigned in August 2019)

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseHimani Pathak

FamilySon - Aadu

Kannan Gopinathan (IAS) Biography

Kannan Gopinathan is a former Indian Administrative Service officer from the 2012 Kerala cadre who resigned in August 2019. Known for his work in disaster‑

Early life and background

Kannan Gopinathan was born on 12 December 1985 in Kottayam, Kerala. He grew up in his hometown and completed his school education at Technical Higher Secondary School, Puthuppally. He later studied electrical engineering and earned a B.Tech degree from the Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, in Ranchi.

Before entering the civil services, Gopinathan worked as a design engineer at Freescale Semiconductors. He left that role to work with a non‑profit organization, where he also provided free tuition to underprivileged students. It was during his time in the non‑profit sector that he met his future wife, Himani Pathak.

Career

Gopinathan joined the Indian Administrative Service in the 2012 batch and was allotted the Kerala cadre. Over the course of his administrative career he held several field and district postings. His assignments included Assistant Collector of Delhi, Deputy Collector and later District Magistrate of Aizawl in Mizoram, and District Collector of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. In Dadra and Nagar Haveli he served as Secretary of the Power and Non‑Conventional Energy Sources Department as well.

While serving in administration, he took part in disaster relief and developmental initiatives. During the 2018 Kerala floods he volunteered in relief operations and reportedly kept his identity concealed while helping affected communities. As an official representative of the Dadra and Nagar Haveli administration he was part of a donation, handing over a cheque for 1 Crore INR to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. When posted in Mizoram, he promoted sports efforts, encouraging former badminton player and coach Pullela Gopichand to expand badminton training centers and consider a high‑altitude sports centre of excellence.

Resignation and aftermath

On 21 August 2019, Gopinathan submitted his resignation from the IAS. In public statements he cited concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression within his role and expressed distress over the denial of fundamental rights to the people of Jammu & Kashmir following the revocation of Article 370. His decision drew significant attention and invited both criticism and support from different quarters.

Following his resignation, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a charge sheet accusing him of insubordination; a departmental inquiry memorandum was reportedly issued some months after he had resigned.

Public profile

Gopinathan has described himself as a vegetarian and lists travelling, playing badminton, drumming, and listening to music among his interests. He comes from a Hindu family and is identified in available records as belonging to the Brahmin community. He is married to Himani Pathak and the couple have a son named Aadu.

Physical details provided in public profiles list his height at approximately 175 cm (5'9") and a weight near 65 kg. His eye colour is recorded as dark brown and his hair as black. He counts Amitabh Bachchan among his favourite actors and has mentioned the 1973 film Zanjeer as a favourite film. He has also named Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani as favourite singers and Raju Srivastava as a favourite comedian.

Latest updates

After his resignation in August 2019, his actions and the government response continued to be discussed publicly. Political figures and some members of the bureaucracy commented on his decision, and news coverage noted the issuance of the charge sheet by authorities in November 2019. Those events remain the most widely reported developments from the licensed material provided.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Kannan Gopinathan (IAS), send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Volunteer work during 2018 Kerala floods

Participated anonymously in flood relief operations and later was publicly recognised for his efforts; also part of a donation of 1 Crore INR to the Kerala CM Disaster Relief Fund as an official representative.

2018
Resignation from IAS

Resigned from the Indian Administrative Service citing loss of freedom of expression and concerns about the situation in Jammu & Kashmir following the revocation of Article 370.

2019
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Career Highlights

  1. Joined Indian Administrative Service, 2012 batch
  2. Served as Assistant Collector of Delhi
  3. Served as Deputy Collector and District Magistrate of Aizawl, Mizoram
  4. Served as District Collector of Dadra and Nagar Haveli
  5. Secretary of Power and Non‑Conventional Energy Sources Department, Dadra and Nagar Haveli
  6. Volunteered in 2018 Kerala flood relief efforts
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Kannan Gopinathan (IAS) born?

Kannan Gopinathan (IAS) was born on 12 December 1985.

What is Kannan Gopinathan (IAS) known for?

Kannan Gopinathan (IAS) is known for iAS Officer (resigned in August 2019).

What is Kannan Gopinathan (IAS)’s marital status?

Kannan Gopinathan (IAS)'s marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Kannan Gopinathan (IAS) married to?

Kannan Gopinathan (IAS) is publicly listed as married to Himani Pathak.