Days after the Delhi blast, the Union government Wednesday gave Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief Parag Jain the additional charge of Secretary (Security).
This secretary is responsible for the security of the Prime Minister and other VVIPs. The post has not had a regular appointee since July 31.
“The Competent Authority has approved assignment of additional charge of the post of Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat to Shri Parag Jain, IPS (PB:89), Secretary, Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) under Cabinet Secretariat with immediate effect and till the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” a government order said.
The additional charge of Secretary (Security) was until now with Manoj Govil, Secretary (Coordination), Cabinet Secretariat. A Madhya Pradesh-cadre IAS officer, Govil was given the additional charge following the retirement of former Intelligence Bureau Special Director Harinath Mishra, who had held the post until July 31.
Before Mishra’s retirement, the government had appointed former IB Special Director RA Chandra Sekhar as the next Secretary (Security). Before taking charge, however, Sekhar went back to his cadre as Kerala police chief. Following this, Govil was given the additional charge.
The Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat is the administrative head of the Special Protection Group, responsible for the security of the Prime Minister and his immediate family.
The role involves administrative leadership, policy coordination on national security matters, and coordinating with intelligence and enforcement agencies. The secretary also acts as a crucial link for policy matters involving close protection and high-level security coordination.
