India
Defence secretary Singh gets 1-year extension to 2027
NDTV·
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet extended Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh for one year beyond October 31, 2026, until October 31, 2027. Singh is a 1989-batch Kerala cadre IAS officer whose tenure was due to end October 31. The order relaxed Fundamental Rule 56(d) and AIS retirement rules. Since May 31 he also holds DRDO secretary and chairman charge.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Singh remains defence secretary and DRDO chairman until October 31, 2027, or further orders.
- No regular DRDO chief has been named since Samir V Kamat left in May.
- The extension applies while defence research and missile manufacturing reforms continue.
What's Happening
- Singh took charge as the 40th defence secretary on November 1, 2024.
- His August 2024 appointment extended service beyond superannuation through October 2026.
- Predecessors under the present government left on superannuation or short extensions.
Longer defence leadership tenures
- Prior secretaries' terms
- Sanjay Mitra received a three-month extension in 2019 beyond a two-year term.
- Singh's one-year extension exceeds prior lengths under this government, reports said.
all-news
