Sanjeev Kumar Singla appointed as PM’s private secretary

IFS officer Sanjeev Kumar Singla has been appointed as Private Secretary (PS) to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, succeeding Vikram Misri, who is going to Spain as Ambassador.

Mr. Singla, a 1997 batch officer, is returning home to serve in the PMO, after a posting in Indian Embassy in Israel’s Tel Aviv.

Mr. Singla, earlier has worked as Director to the then former Foreign Secretary, Ranjan Mathai.

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has approved appointment of Mr. Singla to the post of Private Secretary to the Prime Minister in place of Vikram Misri, said an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

Mr. Misri, a 1989 batch IFS officer, who was appointed as Ambassador to Spain in April, served as Private Secretary to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. After Mr. Modi took over on May 27, Mr. Misri was asked to continue for some time.

It has been approved that Mr. Misri will continue as PS till July 31, the order said.

Mr. Misri had joined the Prime Minister’s Office in 2010 as Joint Secretary and later in 2012 became PS to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The government has also appointed PSs to two cabinet ministers — Harsimrat Kaur Badal and M Venkaiah Naidu.

Hardeep Singh, a 1990 batch Indian Trade Service officer, has been appointed PS to Ms. Badal, Minister for Food Processing Industries.

Mr. Singh is working in Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

S. Suresh Kumar, a 2000 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as PS to Naidu, Minister for Urban Development.

Mr. Kumar is presently working in his cadre state.