The central government announced on Monday that Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Nidhi Tewari has been appointed as Private Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She was elevated from the post of Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister Office (PMO) to this new role.
Official Appointment Details
According to an official order from the Ministry of Personnel, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved Nidhi Tewari’s appointment.
- Designation: Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
- Previous Position: Deputy Secretary, PMO
- Rank: Level 12 in the pay matrix
- Term: Co-terminus basis or until further orders
The appointment takes effect immediately, as per the order dated March 29, 2025.
Who Is Nidhi Tewari?
Her Background and Early Career
- Origin: Mehmurganj, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (PM Modi’s parliamentary constituency since 2014).
- Education & UPSC Journey:
- Cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination (2014 batch) with an All India Rank (AIR) of 96.
- Before clearing UPSC, she worked as an Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Tax) in Varanasi while preparing for the examination.
Experience in Bureaucracy
- Joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 2014.
- Held key positions in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), including serving under the Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division.
- Joined the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in 2022 as an Under Secretary.
- Promoted to Deputy Secretary on January 6, 2023 and worked in the Foreign and Security division, reporting to National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.
Nidhi Tewari Role in PMO
With this new appointment, Nidhi Tewari will be among the two Private Secretaries assisting PM Modi, along with:
- Vivek Kumar
- Hardik Satishchandra Shah
Recent Key Appointments in PMO
In February 2025, former RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das was appointed as “Principal Secretary-2” to PM Narendra Modi. Das, who served as RBI Governor for six years, was succeeded by Sanjay Malhotra, who took charge as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
Conclusion
Nidhi Tewari’s elevation to the Private Secretary role at the PMO highlights her strong credentials and experience in handling foreign policy and security affairs. As PM Modi continues to strengthen his core team, her appointment is seen as a strategic move to bolster the PMO’s efficiency in international relations and security matters.
