Senior IPS officer Rajiv Singh has been appointed Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat, marking a major milestone for the Tripura cadre officer. His elevation comes amid key security reshuffles involving Manipur and Ladakh police leadership.
Senior IPS officer Rajiv Singh has been appointed as the new Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat of the Government of India, according to an official order issued on May 21, 2026. The appointment marks a major achievement for the 1993-batch Indian Police Service officer from the Tripura cadre, who is currently serving as the Director General of Police in Manipur.
With the new assignment, Singh will move into one of the country’s most sensitive security positions. The Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat is responsible for overseeing several high-level national security arrangements, including matters connected to the Special Protection Group (SPG), the elite force entrusted with the protection of the Prime Minister and immediate family members.
Singh will take charge from Parag Jain, who has been holding the additional responsibility of Secretary (Security) alongside his role as chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RA&W).
The appointment is being viewed in administrative and security circles as recognition of Singh’s long and distinguished service in policing, counter-insurgency operations, and intelligence-related assignments. Over the years, he has handled several critical responsibilities across northeastern states and central security agencies.
Singh assumed charge as the Director General of Police of Manipur on June 1, 2023, during a highly volatile period marked by ethnic violence and law-and-order challenges. His tenure in the state drew national attention due to the complexity of the security situation and the need for coordinated policing and crisis management.
Before his posting in Manipur, Singh served in multiple positions in Tripura, beginning his career as a Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO). He gradually rose through the ranks and served in nearly all major policing capacities in the state up to the level of Additional Director General of Police and later DGP in-charge.
His career also includes extensive service in central agencies. Singh worked with the Central Reserve Police Force as Inspector General (Operations) at its headquarters in New Delhi, where he dealt with operational and security-related matters at the national level. He also spent several years with the Central Bureau of Investigation, handling important investigative assignments.
In addition to domestic postings, Singh represented India in international peacekeeping efforts and served in Kosovo under the United Nations flag. His exposure to global policing and conflict-management systems added to his reputation as an experienced security professional.
Officials and observers in Tripura have described the appointment as a proud moment for the state and the Tripura cadre. Many believe Singh’s elevation reflects the growing importance and contribution of officers from the Northeast in India’s national security structure and administrative leadership.
Meanwhile, the reshuffle is also expected to bring changes in the police leadership of Manipur. Sources indicated that incumbent Director General of Police of Ladakh, Mukesh Singh, is likely to become the next police chief of Manipur.
Mukesh Singh, a 1996-batch IPS officer of the AGMUT cadre, is a B.Tech graduate in Civil Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. He took charge as the DGP of Ladakh on January 15, 2026.
During his career, Mukesh Singh held several sensitive assignments in Jammu and Kashmir, including postings as Superintendent of Police in Reasi, Pulwama, Poonch, and Jammu during periods of militancy and insurgency-related operations. His experience in handling conflict-prone regions is expected to be a key factor in his likely appointment to Manipur.
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The official order confirming Rajiv Singh’s appointment was signed by Manisha Saxena, who serves as Secretary of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and Establishment Officer in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
