The Centre has extended Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh’s tenure by another year, keeping him in the post until October 31, 2027. The decision, announced on Saturday, comes a week before he was scheduled to complete his existing two-year tenure on October 31.
The extension is an unprecedented move, with the government citing his work on defence sector reforms and efforts to advance the Centre’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
Focus on self-reliance and defence reforms
A 1989-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, Singh has pushed for faster decision-making in the Defence Ministry and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). His efforts have also focused on opening conventional missile manufacturing to the private sector and reducing India’s dependence on external sources for defence requirements.
Singh assumed charge as the country’s 40th defence secretary on November 1, 2024, succeeding Giridhar Aramane. His service was extended beyond his superannuation when he was appointed to the post in August 2024, allowing him to serve until October 2026.
Additional charge of DRDO
Since May 31, Singh has also been handling the additional responsibilities of secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development, and chairman of DRDO.
He was given the charge after Samir V Kamat’s tenure ended. Kamat had led the organisation since August 25, 2022. The arrangement was intended to continue until a regular appointment was made or further orders were issued. No permanent DRDO chief has been named since.
Longer tenure than predecessors
Singh’s extension stands out among defence secretaries who have served under the Modi government. Ajay Kumar and Giridhar Aramane retired upon superannuation, while RK Mathur and G Mohan Kumar continued beyond their regular retirement ages to complete fixed two-year terms. Sanjay Mitra received a three-month extension in 2019.
Before moving to the Defence Ministry, Singh served as secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade from April 2023 to August 2024. He previously headed the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and held urban development and finance portfolios in the Kerala government.