Story perspectives

Appointments Committee Extends Defence Secretary Rajesh Singh’s Tenure

By Drooid · Oct 25, 2026, 4:06 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The Appointments Committee approved extending Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh’s tenure to 31 October 2027.
The order relaxes Fundamental Rule 56(d) and Rule 16(1A) of the All India Services Rules, 1958.
Singh, a 1989-batch IAS officer, also chairs the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
He has cut DRDO projects to ten flagship programmes and accelerated decision-making.
The Centre also extended Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan’s and Home Secretary Govind Mohan’s tenures by one year.

History

Historical Context

The government’s 31 January 2012 amendment of All India Services Rule 16(3) gave the centre power to retire under-performing officers after 15 years, 25 years or at age 50. Extensions of senior secretaries, approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, echo that precedent; in 2016 the Ministry of Finance dismissed 72 officers and retired 33 for non-performance. Today, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh’s term is prolonged to 31 October 2027.

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Story summary

The Appointments Committee approved extending Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh’s tenure to 31 October 2027.
The order relaxes Fundamental Rule 56(d) and Rule 16(1A) of the All India Services Rules, 1958.
Singh, a 1989-batch IAS officer, also chairs the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
He has cut DRDO projects to ten flagship programmes and accelerated decision-making.
The Centre also extended Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan’s and Home Secretary Govind Mohan’s tenures by one year.

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