From Prison Reforms to Article 370 Verdict: Justice Surya Kant Leaves Strong Mark on Indian Judiciary
Justice Surya Kant serves as the head of the Supreme Court of India and the highest-ranking official of the Indian judiciary, currently holding the office of the 53rd Chief Justice of India. He was born in 1962 in the village of Petwar, located in the Hisar district of Haryana. In 1984, he completed his graduation in Law from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak; subsequently, in 2011, he secured the first position with First Class honors in his Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Kurukshetra University. Prior to becoming a judge, he served as a Senior Advocate and also held the position of Advocate General for the State of Haryana. Positions Held January 9, 2004: Appointed as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. February 23, 2007: Nominated as a Member of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) for two terms. October 5, 2018: Took the oath as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. May 9, 2019: The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, recommended his elevation to the Supreme Court of India. May 24, 2019: Took the oath as a Judge of the Supreme Court. Notable Work Justice Surya Kant has delivered significant judgments concerning human rights, gender justice, legal education, and prison reforms. During his tenure at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he issued directives to the State of Punjab to constitute a Prison Reforms Committee, aimed at formulating a scheme to facilitate conjugal and family visits for prison inmates. His notable contributions include upholding the constitutional validity of the Electoral Bonds Scheme, adjudicating the Pegasus spyware case, ordering the suspension of the Sedition Law, and ruling on the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which revoked the special status previously accorded to the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir. Honors and Awards Maharshi Dayanand University Honor: In 2026, Maharshi Dayanand University conferred the ‘Distinguished Alumnus Award’ upon Justice Surya Kant—a former student of the institution—in recognition of his impartiality, human sensitivity, and unwavering faith in the Constitution. Delhi High Court Bar Association Honor: He was felicitated by the Delhi High Court Bar Association on the occasion of his appointment as the 53rd Chief Justice of India.
Utpal Kumar Singh: From Steering Uttarakhand Through COVID-19 to Leading Lok Sabha Administration
Utpal Kumar Singh is a retired officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) belonging to the Uttarakhand cadre. He was born on July 29, 1960, in Malyampur village, Barhat Block, in the Jamui district of Bihar. Currently, he serves as the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in History from the University of Delhi and the Institute of Social Studies. Additionally, he obtained a degree in Public Policy and Management from a university located in The Hague, Netherlands. Utpal Kumar Singh has held numerous significant positions across the Central Government and various State Governments, including that of Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand, and has served in key central roles spanning departments such as Public Works (PWD), Agriculture, and Personnel. Key Achievements Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand: He performed exemplary work as the Chief Secretary of the Government of Uttarakhand, particularly for his public-spirited efforts aimed at making the state—known as ‘Devbhoomi’—free from COVID-19. Mega Events: He played a pivotal role in the management and organization of the Ardh Kumbh Mela held in Haridwar. World Bank Projects: Throughout his career, he was instrumental in managing World Bank-funded projects and formulating policies for various infrastructure development initiatives.
Ajay Seth appointed as IRDAI Chairman after steering India’s economic affairs and finance ministry reforms
Ajay Seth, the incumbent Chairman of India’s Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI), is a retired IAS officer of the 1987 batch from the Karnataka cadre; he has served in this capacity since September 2025. Prior to his tenure at the IRDAI, he held pivotal positions within India’s Ministry of Finance, serving as both the Finance Secretary and the Secretary of Economic Affairs. He was born on June 30, 1965, in India. He earned a B.Tech degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Roorkee and an MBA degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. Within the Government of Karnataka, Ajay Seth served in various key and diverse roles, notably as the Principal Secretary for Infrastructure Development, Urban Development, and the Planning Department. Between 2000 and 2004, he served as a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Expenditure and the Department of Economic Affairs within the Union Ministry of Finance. Subsequently, from 2004 to 2008, he served as an Advisor to the Executive Director at the Asian Development Bank. Later, within the Government of Karnataka, he served as the Principal Secretary for the Department of Health and Family Welfare and as the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes. His tenure as the Commissioner of the Commercial Taxes Department is recognized for ushering in numerous reforms in commercial tax administration, for which he was honored with the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2013. In July 2018, he was appointed as the Managing Director of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), a position he held until April 2021. In April 2021, the Government of India appointed Ajay Seth as the Secretary of Economic Affairs. This appointment marked his return to the Central Government after a hiatus of 13 years. In March 2025, the government appointed Ajay Seth as India’s new Finance Secretary. This appointment took place after Tuhin Kanta Pandey stepped down from the post of Finance Secretary to assume the chairmanship of SEBI. After stepping down from both his previous positions, Ajay Seth assumed the office of Chairperson of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority for a three-year term, effective September 1, 2025.
Pramod Kumar Mishra: Veteran IAS Officer and Architect of Key Administrative Reforms in India
Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra, serving as the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1972 Gujarat cadre, who has held this position since 2019.Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra was born on August 11, 1948, in the Sambalpur district of Odisha. He completed his primary education in the Sambalpur district of Odisha, after which he pursued higher studies at the Delhi School of Economics, where he earned a Master’s degree. Subsequently, he obtained a Ph.D. in Economics and Development Studies from the University of Sussex in the UK. Career On September 11, 2019, he was appointed as the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India. In addition to serving as the Additional Principal Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, he has held various significant positions in both the Government of India and the Government of Gujarat. These roles include Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Member of the Gujarat Electricity Board, and District Magistrate and Collector for the Mehsana and Banaskantha districts within the Gujarat government. Furthermore, within the Government of India, he has served as the Union Agriculture Secretary, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Secretary in the Ministry of Urban Development, and as a Member of the National Capital Region Planning Board. After retiring from the Indian Administrative Service, he was appointed by the Chief Minister of Gujarat as the Chairman of the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission. His tenure as the Commission’s Chairman concluded on August 11, 2013, at which time he had reached the age of 65. Upon Narendra Modi becoming Prime Minister, Dr. Mishra was appointed as the Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. He was accorded this position with the rank and status of a Cabinet Secretary—considered the highest bureaucratic post in the Government of India—and was subsequently re-appointed to this role. Alongside Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra, the effective Principal Secretary, Mr. Nripendra Mishra, was also re-appointed; these appointments were designated to run concurrently with Prime Minister Modi’s tenure. Awards In 2019, he was honored with the prestigious United Nations Sasakawa Award for his outstanding contributions to disaster risk reduction.
Govind Mohan: From IIT BHU and IIM Ahmedabad to India’s Home Secretary
Govind Mohan (born September 21, 1965) is a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Sikkim cadre, currently serving as the Home Secretary of India since August 23, 2024. He was born in Uttar Pradesh. His father served as a Chief Engineer in the Public Works Department. Mohan received his early education at St. Joseph’s College and St. Francis College in Uttarakhand, completing his schooling in March 1982. Subsequently, he pursued a B.Tech degree at IIT BHU, studying there from July 1982 to March 1986. He went on to complete his MBA at IIM Ahmedabad, studying from July 1986 to March 1988. Throughout his administrative career, Govind Mohan has held several significant positions. Prior to becoming the Home Secretary, he served as the Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Additionally, he served as a Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, as well as a Joint Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs within the Ministry of Finance. Mohan has also served as a Divisional Head for Union Territories and held the position of Principal Resident Commissioner for the Government of Sikkim.
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.