Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh gets one-year extension till October 2027

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has extended the tenure of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh by one year, until October 31, 2027.

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His current tenure was scheduled to end on October 31, 2026.

Mr. Singh will now serve in the role until October 31, 2027, or until further orders, whichever comes first, in relaxation of FR 65(d) and Rule 16 (1A) of the All India Service (Death-Cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, the Centre said on Saturday (October 24, 2026).

Mr. Singh took over as Defence Secretary at South Block on November 1, 2024. He took over from Giridhar Aramane, a 1988-batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, who had retired from service October 31, 2024 after a two year stint.

He is a 1989-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre and assumed the charge of the Officer on Special Duty (Defence Secretary-designate) on August 20, 2024.