Govind Mohan Appointed Union Home Secretary-Designate, To Assume Charge on August 22

The Union government has appointed Govind Mohan as the Union Home Secretary-designate. He will take over the role on August 22 when Ajay Kumar Bhalla's extended tenure ends. Mohan, a 1989-batch IAS officer, is currently serving as Secretary in the Ministry of Culture.

The Union government on Wednesday named Govind Mohan as the Union Home Secretary-designate, positioning him as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Ministry of Home Affairs. Mohan will take charge on August 22, coinciding with incumbent Ajay Kumar Bhalla's extended tenure ending. A 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Sikkim cadre, Mohan has been transitioned from his role as Secretary of the Ministry of Culture.

An order from the Ministry of Personnel confirmed, "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Govind Mohan, IAS (SK:89), Secretary, Ministry of Culture as Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Home Affairs with immediate effect. The officer will take over as Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs vice Ajay Kumar Bhalla, IAS (AM: 84) on completion of his tenure on August 22, 2024."

Mohan, who turns 59 next month, will replace Ajay Kumar Bhalla, a 1984-batch IAS officer whose tenure was extended four times, last year until August 22, 2024. Bhalla, appointed Home Secretary in August 2019, was initially set to retire in November 2020 but saw his term extended multiple times. Mohan, an electrical engineering graduate from BHU-IIT Varanasi, has been the Union Culture Secretary since October 2021 and had prior stints with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Originating from Uttar Pradesh, Mohan has been on Central Deputation since August 2017, serving various roles in the Ministry of Home Affairs from May 2018 to September 2021.

(With inputs from agencies.)