Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh gets additional charge of DRDO Chairman
On 29 May 2026 the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet gave Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh additional charge as Secretary, DDR&D and Chairman, DRDO, from 31 May 2026 on completion of Dr Samir V. Kamat's tenure.
Summary
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on 29 May 2026 assigned Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, additional charge of Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development, and Chairman, DRDO. He takes over from 31 May 2026, when Dr Samir V. Kamat completes his tenure, and will hold the charge until a regular appointment or further orders. Dr Kamat had headed DRDO since August 2022.
Key facts
- Post
- Secretary, DDR&D and Chairman, DRDO (additional charge)
- Assigned to
- Rajesh Kumar Singh, Defence Secretary (IAS, Kerala 1989)
- From
- 31 May 2026
- Outgoing chief
- Dr Samir V. Kamat (DRDO chief since August 2022)
- Order
- Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, 29 May 2026
Practice MCQs 2 questions
In May 2026, who was given additional charge as Chairman of DRDO on completion of Dr Samir V. Kamat's tenure?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Rajesh Kumar Singh
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh was given additional charge as Secretary, DDR&D and Chairman, DRDO, from 31 May 2026.
Dr Samir V. Kamat, whose tenure as DRDO Chairman ended on 31 May 2026, had held the post since:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — August 2022
Dr Kamat had served as Secretary DDR&D and Chairman DRDO since August 2022.