RK Singh takes over as Defence Secretary
Rajesh Kumar Singh on Friday took over as the country’s 41th Defence Secretary. He succeeds Giridhar Aramane, who completed his tenure and superannuated yesterday.
Kumar, a 1989-batch IAS officer from Kerala cadre, was the Officer on Special Duty at the Ministry of Defence since August 20.
Before taking charge, he laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and paid homage to fallen heroes. He said: “The nation shall remain 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 being posted to the Defence Ministry, Kumar was holding the charge of Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, from April 24, 2023 to August 20, 2024.
In Kerala Government, he was Secretary, Urban Development, and later he was the Finance Secretary. In the Union Government, he was Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Singh has held important positions in the Union Government as Director, Works and Urban Transport, in the Ministry of Urban Development; Commissioner (Lands), DDA; Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas; Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare; and Chief Vigilance Officer, Food Corporation of India.
