Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh will remain in office for another year. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Saturday approved a one-year extension in his service, ANI reported, with IANS carrying the same official communique.

The ACC order said the extension is for one year beyond October 31, 2026, up to October 31, 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, in relaxation of the provisions of FR 56(d) and Rule 16(1A) of the All India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958. The order was issued by the Department of Personnel and Training on October 24, 2026.

Singh is a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre. He took charge as Defence Secretary on November 1, 2024, succeeding Giridhar Aramane, after serving as Officer on Special Duty (Defence Secretary-designate) from August 20, 2024. He also holds additional charge as Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) after Samir V Kamat's tenure ended.

As Defence Secretary, Singh is the administrative head of the Ministry of Defence, overseeing defence policy, inter-service coordination and budget administration, and serves as principal adviser to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Before the Defence Ministry, he headed the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and earlier served as finance secretary and urban development secretary in Kerala. Sources: ANI, IANS, ACC/DoPT order.