Shaktikanta Das Appointed Principal Secretary-2 to PM: Why It’s Unusual

Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has been appointed as "Principal Secretary-2" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This marks the first time the Prime Minister will have two principal secretaries, with PK Mishra continuing in his role since 2019.

A New Structure in the PMO

PK Mishra, now 76, has been a key figure in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for years. During Modi’s first term, he served as Additional Principal Secretary while Nripendra Misra held the Principal Secretary position. When the BJP-led government returned to power in 2019, Mishra took over as Principal Secretary after Misra stepped down.

Instead of appointing an additional principal secretary this time, the government has opted for two principal secretaries, effectively elevating Das to an equal footing with Mishra. Sources suggest that Das’s recent tenure as RBI governor played a significant role in this decision. At 67 years old, Das is notably younger than Mishra by almost a decade.

Shaktikanta Das: A Seasoned Bureaucrat

Das, a 1980-batch IAS officer, has held several high-profile positions in the government. Before becoming RBI governor in 2018, he served as Revenue Secretary and Economic Affairs Secretary. His term at the central bank ended in December last year, after receiving a three-year extension in 2021.

His extensive experience in finance and policymaking is expected to bring valuable expertise to the PMO, particularly in economic decision-making and financial governance.

Other Key Officials in the PMO

Apart from Mishra and Das, the Prime Minister has two advisers—retired IAS officers Amit Khare (1985 batch) and Tarun Kapoor (1987 batch).

Among them, PK Mishra remains the senior-most bureaucrat in the PMO. He belongs to the 1972 batch of the IAS and was reappointed last year after the NDA government began its third term. His tenure is co-terminus with that of the Prime Minister, unless specified otherwise.

With the appointment of Das, the PMO is further strengthening its economic and policy expertise, ensuring a robust decision-making team at the highest level of governance.