Rajesh Kumar Singh takes over as defence secretary
New Delhi (PTI): Senior bureaucrat Rajesh Kumar Singh took over as defence secretary on Friday.
The 1989-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre assumed charge at the South Block, where the ministry is housed.
Before taking charge, Singh laid a wreath and paid homage to the fallen heroes at the National War Memorial.
He had assumed charge as officer on special duty (defence secretary-designate) on August 20.
"The nation will remain forever indebted to our brave soldiers who make the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland. Their extraordinary bravery and sacrifice is a source of strength and inspiration for us to make India a safe and prosperous nation," he said.
Singh held the post of secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry from April 24, 2023, to August 20, 2024.
Prior to that, he was secretary in the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
Singh has held many other important positions in the Union government, including director of works and urban transport in the Ministry of Urban Development; commissioner (lands) in the Delhi Development Authority; joint secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas; joint secretary in the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare; and chief vigilance officer in the Food Corporation of India, the ministry said in a statement.
He has also held charge as urban development secretary and finance secretary in the Kerala government.
Singh succeeds Giridhar Aramane, a 1988-batch IAS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, who superannuated on Thursday.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Several injured as thousands flock to Deviramma temple in Chikkamagaluru
Chikkamagaluru: A large number of devotees thronged to the Deviramma temple on Thursday to have a glimpse of the presiding deity, Bindiga Deviramma, which is accessible to devotees only on Naraka Chaturdashi. The journey to the temple, located on a 3,000-foot hill, was challenging and resulted in numerous slips and falls, leading to injuries among the crowd.
The slippery slopes, exacerbated by recent rains, caused many attendees to sustain fractures in their hands and legs. Sindhu and Divya from Bengaluru suffered leg fractures, while Jayamma from Mangaluru experienced low blood pressure during the visit, as reported by Deccan Herald. A youth named Venu from Tarikere sustained a severe head injury and has been hospitalised.
Police and fire service personnel were stationed at various points along the hill. Additionally, KSRTC arranged special buses from Kadur, Birur, and Chikkamagaluru to Mallenahalli to accommodate the influx of visitors.
