Rajesh Kumar Singh Appointed New Defence Secretary

On 31st October 2024, Rajesh Kumar Singh, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, officially assumed the role of Defence Secretary, succeeding Giridhar Aramane.

Rajesh Kumar Singh took over the Defence Secretary post at South Block on November 1, 2024, after Giridhar Aramane retired following a two-year tenure.
Before assuming the role, Mr. Singh honored India's fallen soldiers by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
Singh previously served as Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) from April 2023 to August 2024, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
He also held the position of Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, where he contributed to advancing India’s dairy and animal husbandry sectors.
Singh was designated as Officer on Special Duty (Defence Secretary-designate) on August 20, signaling the transition to his new role in national defense.