IAS officer Rajesh Kumar Singh takes over as Defence Secretary

Rajesh Kumar Singh has officially assumed the role of Defence Secretary at South Block, New Delhi. A 1989-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, Singh previously served as the Officer on Special Duty (Defence Secretary-designate) since August 20, 2024.
On his first day in office, Singh paid tribute to the nation’s fallen heroes by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
He expressed gratitude for the sacrifices made by Indian soldiers, stating, “The nation will remain forever indebted to our brave soldiers who make the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland. Their extraordinary bravery and sacrifice is a source of strength and inspiration for us to make India a safe and prosperous nation.”
Before his new appointment, Singh was the Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry from April 2023 to August 2024.
He has also held several significant positions within the government, including Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Director of Works and Urban Transport in the Ministry of Urban Development.
In addition to his work at the Union Government level, Singh has served as Secretary of Urban Development and Finance Secretary for the Government of Kerala. He takes over from Shri Giridhar Aramane, who retired on October 31, 2024, after a distinguished career as a 1988-batch IAS officer from the Andhra Pradesh cadre.