T. V. Somanathan: The Technocrat Steering India’s Top Bureaucratic Office
Dr. T.V. Somanathan serves as the Cabinet Secretary of India, holding the highest-ranking civil service position within the Government of India. An officer of the 1987 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) from the Tamil Nadu cadre, Dr. Somanathan is regarded as one of the country’s most competent and efficient technocrat-bureaucrats. Through his administrative acumen, economic insight, and policy perspective, he has made significant contributions at both the central and state government levels. Born on May 10, 1965, Dr. Somanathan earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Calcutta and completed an Executive Development Program at the Harvard Business School. Additionally, he holds prestigious professional qualifications as a Chartered Accountant, Cost Accountant, and Company Secretary. He secured the second rank at the All-India level in the 1987 IAS batch and was awarded a Gold Medal for being the Best Probationer. Throughout his extensive administrative career, Dr. Somanathan has held numerous pivotal positions. Prior to his current role, he served as the Finance Secretary and the Secretary of the Department of Expenditure, where he played a crucial role in maintaining fiscal discipline and managing public finance. As a Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, he also contributed to the formulation of national policies. Furthermore, he has served as a Financial Economist and Director of Corporate Affairs at the World Bank Group. In Tamil Nadu, he rendered distinguished service as the Founding Managing Director of the Chennai Metro Rail Corporation Limited, and later as the Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Commercial Taxes during the implementation of the GST.
From DPIIT to Defence: Rajesh Kumar Singh Takes Charge at South Block as India’s Top Bureaucrat in Defence Ministry
Rajesh Kumar Singh, a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1989 batch from the Kerala cadre, has been appointed as India’s Defence Secretary. Prior to this, he served as the Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. His tenure as the Secretary of the Department of Defence has been extended beyond the standard retirement age until October 31, 2026. India’s current Defence Secretary, Rajesh Kumar Singh, was born on November 24, 1964. A native of Bihar, Rajesh Kumar Singh is an IAS officer of the 1989 batch from the Kerala cadre. Rajesh Kumar Singh assumed charge as the Defence Secretary on November 1, 2024, at the South Block in New Delhi. Notably, he succeeded Giridhar Aramane, an IAS officer of the 1988 batch from the Andhra Pradesh cadre. Rajesh Kumar Singh previously served as the Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade within the Ministry of Commerce and Industry from April 24, 2023, to August 20, 2024. Prior to this, he served as the Secretary of Animal Husbandry and Dairying within the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying. Under the Central Government, R.K. Singh has held several significant positions, including Director of Construction and Urban Transport in the Ministry of Urban Development; Commissioner in the Delhi Development Authority (DDA); Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas; Joint Secretary in the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers Welfare; and Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) in the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Vikram Misri: From PMO Insider to India’s Top Diplomat, Steering Foreign Policy Through Global Challenges
Vikram Misri currently serves as India’s Foreign Secretary, having assumed the office on July 15, 2024. Prior to becoming Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri served as India’s Ambassador to China, Spain, and Myanmar. Additionally, he has served as the Private Secretary to former Prime Ministers Inder Kumar Gujral and Dr. Manmohan Singh, as well as to the current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Before becoming Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri also served as India’s Deputy National Security Advisor from January 2022 to June 2024. Vikram Misri was born on November 7, 1964, into a Kashmiri Hindu family in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. He completed his early education at The Scindia School. Following his early schooling, he pursued a Bachelor’s degree in History at Hindu College, University of Delhi. After his graduation, he obtained an MBA degree from the Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur. Upon completing his studies, he worked in the advertising sector for approximately three years. In 1979, he joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS); subsequently, between 1991 and 1996, he served in various capacities at Indian diplomatic missions in Brussels and Tunis. In 1997, he was appointed as the Private Secretary to the then-Prime Minister, Inder Kumar Gujral. Thereafter, he made significant contributions while serving in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of External Affairs, as well as at several Indian diplomatic missions abroad. Subsequently, in 2012, he was appointed as the Private Secretary to the then-Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh. Following Dr. Manmohan Singh’s tenure, when Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, Misri was appointed as his Private Secretary as well. In 2014, he was appointed as India’s Ambassador to Spain; subsequently, in 2016, he was appointed as the Ambassador to Myanmar. Finally, in 2019, he was entrusted with the post of Ambassador to China. He served as Ambassador during the India-China clashes from 2020 to 2021 and held several key meetings with senior Chinese officials, including Jianchou, to discuss the tensions.
From IIT Kanpur to RBI: Sanjay Malhotra Appointed 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India
Sanjay Malhotra is the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). On December 11, 2024, Sanjay Malhotra assumed charge as the Governor of the RBI. Regarding his professional background, Governor Sanjay Malhotra is a 1990-batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) from the Rajasthan cadre. He has previously worked across various sectors, including power, finance, taxation, information technology, and mining. Governor Sanjay Malhotra possesses over 33 years of professional experience. Prior to serving as the Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, he held the position of Secretary in the Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. He holds expertise in the fields of finance and taxation at both the state and central government levels. Sanjay Malhotra was born in the city of Bikaner, Rajasthan. He completed his primary education at the Kendriya Vidyalaya in Bikaner, after which he earned a B.Tech degree in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur. Subsequently, he pursued a graduate degree in Public Policy from Princeton University in the United States. It is worth noting that his father was an officer in the Border Security Force (BSF). Sanjay Malhotra began his career in the year 2000 as the Private Secretary to a Union Minister. Prior to serving as a Union Minister’s Private Secretary, he worked across various departments within the state of Rajasthan. From 2003 to 2020, he served in various departments of the Government of Rajasthan, including Mines and Minerals, Information and Broadcasting, Energy, and Commercial Taxation. From 2000 to 2003, he served as the Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Space and the Minister of State for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Subsequently, in 2020, he was appointed as the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Power and also served as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC). Subsequently, in February 2022, he was appointed as the Secretary of Financial Services within the Ministry of Finance. While serving in this capacity, he oversaw the launch of the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) and became a member of the Board of the Reserve Bank of India. Malhotra was appointed Revenue Secretary in December 2022. During his tenure in this position, he implemented a new income tax regime. Subsequently, on December 11, 2024, Sanjay Malhotra was appointed Governor of the RBI.
Ajit Kumar Doval: India’s ‘James Bond’ and Mastermind Behind Surgical Strikes & Balakot Operations
Ajit Kumar Doval currently serves as India’s National Security Advisor. He is widely regarded as India’s “James Bond” and the “Chanakya” of the modern era. Ajit Doval has held the position of National Security Advisor since May 30, 2014, making him the fifth individual to hold this office. Regarding his early life and education, Ajit Kumar Doval was born on January 20, 1945, in the village of Ghiri Banelsyun in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. His father, Major G.N. Doval, was also an officer in the Indian Army. He received his early education at the Ajmer Military School in Rajasthan and graduated with a degree in Economics from Agra University in 1967. In 1968, Doval cleared the Civil Services Examination and joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) under the Kerala cadre. Shortly after beginning his career, he was credited with single-handedly restoring peace—without the use of force—during the 1971 communal riots in Thalassery, Kerala, by engaging with local leaders. Subsequently, in 1972, Doval moved to the Intelligence Bureau, shifting his focus from traditional policing to covert operations and counter-terrorism. He played a pivotal role in quelling the insurgency led by the Mizo National Front and successfully reintegrated numerous insurgents into the mainstream. Furthermore, Doval spent several years working undercover, a period that included living clandestinely in Pakistan. During Operation Black Thunder in 1988, he infiltrated the Golden Temple in Amritsar disguised as a rickshaw puller; this operation helped gather critical intelligence that played an instrumental role in flushing out the terrorists. Additionally, in 1988, Doval became the first police officer to be awarded the Kirti Chakra, an honor recognizing his distinguished record of covert service. In 1999, Doval was one of the three negotiators involved in the talks for the release of passengers from the hijacked IC-814 aircraft in Kandahar. He was involved in resolving 15 aircraft hijackings involving Indian Airlines that occurred between 1971 and 1999. In January 2005, Ajit Doval retired from the post of Director of the Intelligence Bureau. Following his retirement, Doval was appointed as India’s fifth National Security Advisor on May 30, 2014. In July 2014, he ensured the safe return of 46 Indian nurses who were held captive in a hospital in Tikrit, Iraq. He is the longest-serving incumbent in this position and a powerful bureaucrat holding the rank of a Cabinet Minister. Strategic Achievements: He played a pivotal role in several major strategic and diplomatic initiatives, such as the 2016 ‘Surgical Strikes,’ the 2019 ‘Balakot Airstrikes,’ and the abrogation of the special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir.
Fighter Pilot to Air Chief: Amar Preet Singh Brings 5,000+ Flying Hours and Vast Leadership Experience to Top IAF Role
Air Chief Marshal Amarpreet Singh, who has served in the Indian Air Service for 40 years, was appointed as Air Chief Marshal on September 30, 2024. He became the 28th Chief of the Indian Air Service. Prior to becoming the Chief of the Air Service, he served as the 47th Vice Chief of the Indian Air Service from February 1, 2023. Regarding his early life and education, he was born on October 27, 1964. Air Marshal Amarpreet Singh is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Staff College, and the National Defence College. He also received advanced training at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the National Defence College, New Delhi. He is also a qualified flying instructor and a brilliant pilot. He has over 5,000 hours of flying experience on close-field and rotary aircraft. As a pilot, he led the MiG-29 upgrade project management team in Moscow, Russia. He was also the Project Director at the National Flight Test Centre. During his long and distinguished service of nearly 40 years, Amarpreet Singh has held various Command, Staff, and Instructional positions and has held important responsibilities for the Air Service abroad. He was commissioned into the fighter pilot stream of the Indian Air Service in December 1984. Air Chief Marshal Amarpreet Singh has commanded the operational fighter squadron Drum and a frontline air base. He was also entrusted with the flight testing of the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. He has held the important appointments of Air Defence Commander at South Western Air Command and Senior Air Staff Officer at Eastern Air Command
S. Raja Subramani Appointed India’s Third CDS, Returns to Active Service After Distinguished Military Career
Following General Anil Chauhan, the Government of India has appointed Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani as the third Chief of Defence Staff. General N. S. Raja Subramaniam has been serving in the Indian Armed Forces since 1985. He was commissioned into the 18th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles on December 14, 1985. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has served in various command, staff, and instructional appointments. General Officer N. S. Raja Subramani is an alumnus of the 67th Course of the National Defence Academy and the 77th Course of the Indian Military Academy. He attended the Joint Services Command and Staff College in the UK and the National Defence College in New Delhi. Subsequently, he pursued studies at King’s College London, earning a Master of Arts degree from the University of London and an M.Phil. in Defence Studies from the University of Madras. After completing his studies at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in the United Kingdom, he returned to India and assumed command of the 16th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles in Assam. This battalion was deployed in a counter-insurgency role under ‘Operation Rhino.’ Subsequently, he was appointed as the Defence Attaché at the Indian Embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan. It is noteworthy that, while holding the rank of Colonel, he also served as the Assistant Military Secretary in the ‘S’ Branch at Army Headquarters. He further served as the Colonel General Staff (Operations) at the Eastern Command Headquarters and, in Jammu and Kashmir, served as the Deputy Commander of a Sector of the Rashtriya Rifles. Military Career Subsequently, upon being promoted to the rank of Brigadier, he assumed command of the 168th Infantry Brigade in Samba. He was then selected to attend the National Defence College in New Delhi, as part of the 55th course. Following the course, he was appointed as the Deputy Director General of Military Intelligence (DDGMI) at Army Headquarters. Subsequently, he also served as the Brigadier General Staff in the Eastern Command. After being promoted to the rank of Major General, he was appointed as the General Officer Commanding of the 17th Mountain Division in Sikkim. On February 3, 2020, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed as the General Officer Commanding, North India Area. On February 12, 2021, Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani assumed the charge of General Officer Commanding, succeeding Lieutenant General Surinder Singh Mahal. In 2022, he also served as the Chief of Staff at the Northern Command, based in Udhampur. On March 1, 2023, Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani assumed the charge of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Command. On July 1, 2024, Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani assumed the office of Vice Chief of Army Staff, marking his 47th year of service. After retiring from active military service, he was appointed as a Military Advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat. Most recently, on May 9, 2026, the Government of India appointed Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani as the third Chief of Defence Staff, thereby marking his return to active military service. During his career, the general officer has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2020, the Sena Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal
General Upendra Dwivedi Assumes Charge as 30th Army Chief, Bringing Vast Counter-Insurgency Experience
General Upendra Dwivedi is the 30th Chief of the Indian Army. He assumed office on June 30, 2024. Prior to this, he served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. General Upendra Dwivedi possesses extensive experience in counter-insurgency and border operations in Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan. Additionally, he holds experience in commanding a Mountain Division in the Northeast. General Upendra Dwivedi was born on July 1, 1964, in the village of Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. He received his early education at the Sainik School, Rewa. After completing his schooling at Sainik School, General Dwivedi attended the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, followed by the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun. He was awarded the ‘Blue’ in physical training for his outstanding performance at both the NDA and the IMA. General Dwivedi was commissioned into the 18th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, on December 15, 1984. He commanded a sector of the Assam Rifles in Manipur during ‘Operation Rhino,’ and served in the Kashmir Valley during ‘Operation Rakshak’ and in the deserts of Rajasthan. Throughout his illustrious career spanning over 39 years, he held various staff appointments at Headquarters formations—including a Brigade, a Mountain Division, a Strike Corps, and the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence. Among his previous appointments, he served as an Instructor at the Indian Military Academy and as a Director on the Directing Staff for the Higher Command Course at the Army War College, where he trained future generations of officers from all three services as well as from friendly foreign nations. Tenure and Command: Recent Statements (2025–2026):
Krishna Swaminathan: The New Indian Naval Staff Chief
The Government of India has appointed Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan as the next Chief of the Indian Navy. He will formally assume the office of the Chief of Naval Staff on May 31, 2026. Following this, his tenure will extend until December 31, 2028. Currently, he is serving as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, based in Mumbai. Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan joined the Indian Navy on July 1, 1987. He assumed charge as the 34th Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command on July 31, 2025. Krishna Swaminathan was born in Bangalore to D. Swaminathan and Shanta Swaminathan; both his parents were teachers. The Swaminathan family resided in NR Colony, Basavanagudi. He studied at Bishop Cotton Boys’ School until the age of 11, after which he pursued his further education at the Sainik School, Bijapur. Subsequently, he enrolled at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, and earned his graduation degree from there. After the NDA, Swaminathan pursued further studies at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham (United Kingdom); the College of Naval Warfare, Karanja; and the United States Naval War College, Newport (Rhode Island, USA). In terms of academic qualifications, he holds a BSc degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; an MSc in Telecommunications from the Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi; an MA in Defence Studies from King’s College London; an M.Phil in Strategic Studies from the University of Mumbai; and a Ph.D. in International Studies, also from the University of Mumbai. Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan is a specialist in communications and electronic warfare. Within the Navy, he is regarded as a visionary officer. He places special emphasis on future warfare and new military strategies. His focus remains firmly on modern technology and future readiness. Throughout his naval career, he has served in several key positions. Furthermore, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan has been conferred with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and the Vishisht Seva Medal.
From “Educate, Agitate, Organize” to Mahaparinirvan Diwas: The Inspiring Legacy of B. R. Ambedkar
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, a prominent social reformer, economist, and India’s first Law Minister. He was born on April 14, 1892. He is known as Baba Saheb and played a key role in the struggle for the rights of Dalit women and workers and in the eradication of social evils like untouchability. Bhimrao Ambedkar received his early education in Mumbai, after which he went to London for further education, where he received an MA and PhD from Columbia University or the London School of Economics. He was the first Indian to earn a doctorate in economics abroad. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar is also known as the father of the Indian Constitution. Dr. Ambedkar, while serving as chairman of the Constituent Assembly, drafted the Constitution in 2 years, 11 months, and 17 days. He founded the “Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha” for Dalits and secured water rights through the “Mahad Satyagraha” in 1927. He also coined the slogan “Educate, Agitate, Organize.” Dr. Ambedkar also launched the newspaper “Bahishkrit Bharat” on April 3, 1927, to address the issues of Dalits. Following this, on August 15, 1936, he formed the “Independent Labour Party,” composed mostly of working-class members, to protect the interests of Dalits. After independence in 1947, he was appointed Minister of Law and Justice in the first cabinet of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1955, he published his book, “The Idea of Linguistic States.” In 1954, he was conferred the title of Bodhisattva by Buddhist monks at the “World Buddhist Council” in Kathmandu, Nepal. On October 14, 1956, he embraced Buddhism in a historic ceremony in Nagpur and died on December 6, 1956. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s death anniversary is celebrated nationwide as “Mahaparinirvan Diwas.” 3 Key Ideas Bhimrao Ambedkar Honors and Awards