Ajit Doval has been reappointed as the National Security Advisor (NSA) and PK Mishra will remain the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, effective from June 10. These appointments are coterminous with the term of the Prime Minister or until further orders, meaning they will hold their positions as long as Narendra Modi remains in office or until further changes are announced.
Both Doval and Mishra will be accorded the rank of cabinet minister during their tenure. This decision underscores the Prime Minister’s trust in these seasoned officials, who have been integral to his administration.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has also approved the reappointment of Amit Khare and Tarun Kapoor as advisors to the Prime Minister for two years, starting June 10, in the rank and scale of Secretary to the Government of India.
Ajit Doval, who has been the NSA since 2014, is a former Intelligence Bureau director and a highly trusted aide of the Prime Minister. A 1968-batch IPS officer from the Kerala cadre, Doval was the first police officer to be awarded the Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award. His role encompasses overseeing national security, including all anti-terror and intelligence operations, making him one of the most influential officials in the country.
PK Mishra, a 1972-batch IAS officer from the Gujarat cadre, has been serving as the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister since 2019, after previously holding the position of Additional Principal Secretary. Mishra, who holds a PhD in Economics/Development Studies from the University of Sussex, has been a key figure in the Prime Minister’s Office, reflecting the confidence placed in him by the administration.
