The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Friday extended the tenure of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba for a period of one year beyond August 30, 2022.
This is Mr. Gauba’s second extension to the post. The 1982 batch Jharkhand cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer was first appointed the Cabinet Secretary in 2019 for a term of two years. He received an extension in service in 2021.
This will be Mr. Gauba’s fourth year in office. His predecessor P.K. Sinha, a 1977 batch IAS officer had got three extensions and was one of the longest-serving Cabinet Secretaries. Mr. Sinha replaced Ajit Kumar Seth in June 2015. Mr. Seth, appointed in 2011 during the Congress-led UPA government regime, completed his tenure in 2013 but was given a year’s extension. After Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, Mr. Seth was given an extension twice.
Mr. Gauba served as the Union Home Secretary before he was appointed the Cabinet Secretary in 2019. He has also worked as Secretary in the Union Urban Development Ministry and as Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry, looking after the crucial Left Wing Extremism division, among other responsibilities.
Born in Punjab, Mr. Gauba graduated in Physics from Patna University. He has served in Jharkhand as the Chief Secretary for 15 months before returning to serve in the Central government in 2016.
