Dr Pramod Kumar Mishra has been appointed as the new Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an official statement said on September 11, 2019. According to the statement, PK Mishra took over his new assignment on Wednesday. Formerly, Mishra was the additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and held the rank of a Cabinet Minister. This shuffle is due to Nripendra Misra stepping down as Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. The PM had asked him to continue on for two weeks. 

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Dr Mishra specialised in Development Economics

Dr Misra is a graduate from the Delhi School of Economics, he had specialised in development economics from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom. PK Mishra earned a doctoral degree on the same topic as well. Dr Mishra has experience in the management of programmes relating to agriculture, disaster management, power sector, infrastructure financing, and regulatory issues. His career profile is extraordinary, and it consists of research, publications, policy formulation and programme, and project management. 

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Served in various key positions

Before being appointed as Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, PK Mishra has served in various key positions for both Indian and state governments. He has served as the Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue), Principal Secretary (Agriculture and Cooperation), Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Gujarat, member of the Gujarat Electricity Board, and as the District Magistrate and Collector of Mehsana and Banaskantha districts in the government of Gujarat. He has also further served as the Union Agriculture Secretary, special secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, additional secretary in Ministry of Urban Development, and as the member secretary of National Capital Region Planning Board in the Government of India.

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After his retirement from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Mishra was appointed the chairman of Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) by the Chief Minister of Gujarat. His term as the chairman of GERC came to an end on August 11, 2013, when he turned 65.

Mishra, Doval and Sinha will form PM Modi's core group at the PMO

The latest round of appointments at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) comprises of Principal Secretary PK Mishra and National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval. Principal Advisor to Prime Minister PK Sinha will form PM Modi’s core group at the PMO. 

(With Inputs from PTI)