Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh Gets One-Year Tenure Extension

The central government has extended the tenure of Union Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh by one year until October 31, 2027. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension, which allows him to stay in office past his earlier retirement schedule.

Details

Mr. Singh's current term was originally set to finish on October 31, 2026. The new order allows him to continue serving until October 31, 2027, or until further orders. The government made this decision by relaxing FR 65(d) and Rule 16(1A) of the All India Service (Death-Cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules. Mr. Singh took charge as Defence Secretary on November 1, 2024, taking over from Giridhar Aramane. He is a 1989-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre and previously joined as Officer on Special Duty in August 2024.

Context

Bureaucratic tenure extensions for key administrative posts are decided by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet to ensure continuity in crucial government departments. The Ministry of Defence oversees India's armed forces and major national security policy decisions.