The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved one-year extensions in service for cabinet secretary T V Somanathan and Union home secretary Govind Mohan, according to separate orders issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan have been granted one-year extensions in service by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. (Hindustan Times)

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved an extension in service of Dr T.V. Somanathan, IAS (TN:87) as Cabinet Secretary for a further period of one year beyond August 30, 2026,” the DoPT order said.

Somanathan was appointed cabinet secretary on August 30, 2024, succeeding Rajiv Gauba. Before taking over the country’s top bureaucratic post, he served as finance secretary and held key positions in the Prime Minister’s Office, including joint secretary and additional secretary.

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“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved extension in the service of Shri Govind Mohan, IAS (SK:89) as Home Secretary, Ministry of home affairs for a period of one year beyond 22.08.2026 i.e. up to 22.08.2027 or until further orders, whichever is earlier, in relaxation of the provisions of FR 56 (d) and Rule 16 (1A) of the All India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958,” the order said.

The relaxation has been granted under provisions that allow the Centre to extend the tenure of certain key officials beyond the retirement age of 60 years. These include the cabinet secretary, home secretary, defence secretary, foreign secretary, the Intelligence Bureau director and the chief of the Research and Analysis Wing, among others.

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Mohan was appointed home secretary in August 2024, replacing Ajay Bhalla, who is now the governor of Manipur. Before assuming the post, Mohan served as secretary in the Ministry of Culture.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet comprises Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah.