Nidhi Tewari Appointed As PM Modi’s Private Secretary: Who Is the IFS Officer?
Nidhi Tewari, a 2014-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, has been named the new Private Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking a significant appointment announced by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) on Monday. Currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Tewari’s elevation underscores her growing role in India’s administrative and diplomatic circles.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Tewari’s appointment on March 29, with her new responsibilities taking effect immediately. Her position as Private Secretary is set at Level 12 of the pay matrix and will align with the current administration’s term or until further orders are issued.
Tewari has been a key figure in the PMO since joining as an Under Secretary in 2022, later transitioning to Deputy Secretary on January 6, 2023.
Hailing from Mahmoorganj in Varanasi—PM Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency since 2014—Tewari secured the 96th rank in the 2013 Civil Services Examination. Before entering the IFS, she served as an Assistant Commissioner in Varanasi, balancing her administrative duties with UPSC preparation.
Her journey from a local government role to a top position in the PMO highlights her dedication and expertise in public service.
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Prior to her PMO tenure, Tewari worked in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) within the Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division. This experience equipped her with a strong foundation in international relations, a skill she has brought to the PMO’s ‘Foreign and Security’ vertical.
In this role, she has reported directly to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, handling critical areas like external affairs and security policy.
The DoPT order stated, “The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Ms. Nidhi Tewari, IFS (2014), currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, as Private Secretary to the Prime Minister.” The appointment reflects her over three years of service in the PMO.
Her role is expected to involve close coordination with the PM on key administrative and diplomatic matters.
Tewari’s career trajectory—from an Assistant Commissioner to an IFS officer and now Private Secretary—demonstrates her steady rise within India’s bureaucratic framework. Her work in the PMO has focused on foreign policy and security, areas critical to the government’s agenda.
This appointment places her among a select group, following predecessors like Vivek Kumar and Hardik Satishchandra Shah in serving the PM directly.
