Govt names Rajesh Kumar Singh as Defence Secy, announces other secretary-level changes

Singh, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, is currently Secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, and will take over from Aramane Giridhar

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on August 16 announed a string of secretary-level appointments, and named Rajesh Kumar Singh as the new Defence Secretary.

Singh, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, is currently Secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. He will initially be appointed as Officer on Special Duty, at the Department of Defence, Ministry of Defence, and will take over as Defence Secretary from Aramane Giridhar upon completion of his tenure on October 31. The ACC has also approved extension in service of Singh as Defence Secretary beyond the age of superannuation, for a period up to October 31, 2026 or until further orders, whichever is earlier, the government said.

Meanwhile, Punya Salila Srivastava has been named Health Secretary, and the ACC named Amardeep Bhati, as DPIIT Secretary.

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Manoj Govil, currently the Corporate Affairs Secretary, has been appointed as Expenditire Secretary in the finance ministry. Katikithala Srinivas, currently the Minority Affairs Secretary, has been named as as Secretary at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.