The Centre on Monday extended the tenure of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri till July 14, 2026, according to a Personnel Ministry order.
Misri, a 1989 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, assumed charge as India’s Foreign Secretary on July 15.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved extension of Misri as Foreign Secretary beyond the date of his superannuation on November 30 for a tenure up to July 14, 2026 or until further orders, whichever is earlier, in terms of provisions of FR 56 (d), the order said.
The provisions allow extension in the service of a Foreign Secretary beyond the date of superannuation in public interest, officials said.
This isn’t the first instance of the Narendra Modi government extending the term of a retiring officer of such a senior rank. Misri’s predecessor also got extension in service.
Immediately after coming to power for the third time, the Modi government had extended the tenure of Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Tapan Kumar Deka, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 1988 batch, for one year.
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, a 1982-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, received three extensions, making him the longest-serving cabinet secretary in the history of India.
Rajesh Kotecha, secretary in the AYUSH ministry since 2017, has also been granted several extensions since his appointment to the post.
