Nidhi Tewari Named PM Modi’s Private Secretary

Nidhi Tewari, a 2014-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, has been appointed as the private secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a significant step in her career within the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved her elevation from deputy secretary to private secretary on March 29, with the role taking effect immediately on a co-terminus basis, as per the Ministry of Personnel’s order. Tewari, who hails from Mehmurganj in Varanasi—Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency since 2014—brings a wealth of experience in foreign affairs to this key position.

Tewari’s journey to the PMO began with her securing the 96th rank in the 2013 Civil Services Examination, after which she joined the IFS. Before that, she served as an Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Tax) in Varanasi, balancing her duties with UPSC preparation. She joined the PMO as an Under Secretary in 2022, rising to Deputy Secretary by January 2023, where she worked in the ‘Foreign and Security’ division under National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Her prior stint in the Ministry of External Affairs’ Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division honed her expertise in international relations, a skillset now vital for her new role.

At 34 years old—Tewari is among the younger officers to hold this post, assisting Modi alongside private secretaries Vivek Kumar and Hardik Satishchandra Shah. Her appointment, coming just after Shaktikanta Das’s naming as Principal Secretary-2 in February, signals a blend of youth and experience in Modi’s team. As she steps into this role, Tewari’s Varanasi roots and diplomatic background offer a fresh lens for India’s global engagements.