IAS officer Saket Kumar appointed private secretary to Home Minister Amit Shah. Here's everything you need to know

An IAS officer has been appointed as private secretary to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a government order said. IAS officer Saket Kumar's appointment has been approved till July, 2023, by the competent authority, an orde issued by the Personnel Ministry said.

He is a 2009-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Bihar cadre. Last year, he was appointed as private secretary to Manoj Sinha, who was then the MoS (Independent charge) for Communications and MoS Railways.

Saket Kumar had served as District Magistrate in Banka and Khagadia district of Bihar. He is an alumnus of Hindu college Delhi University and studied history there. 

Earlier, Kundan Kumar, Private Secretary to former Home Minister Rajnath Singh, was also a Bihar cadre officer, making Saket Kumar the second consecutive officer from Bihar to be appointed to the key role.

In another order, M Imkongla Jamir was appointed PS to Textiles and Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani till July 22, 2020, which happens to be the balance period of five years as private secretary to a minister.

Mr Jamir is a 2002-batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre and was in 2015 appointed as PS to Irani, who was then the Human Resource Development Minister.

Bureaucrat Ashish Kumar has been appointed as private secretary to Union Minister Jitendra Singh, for the balance period of four years, till August 27, 2021. He is a 2005-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre. He worked as the minister''s PS for a brief period of time last year.

Read: Security Of Amit Shah Strengthened: Officials

Meanwhile, the security cover of Home Minister Amit Shah has also been strengthened with the Delhi Police putting in place additional component of security personnel at his residence, officials said.

The move came after Shah assumed charge of the sensitive ministry last week.

The Delhi Police has reviewed the security of the home minister and moved additional component to his residence here, a senior security official said.

Amit Shah is currently given Z-plus security by central paramilitary forces.

(With inputs from PTI)