Nidhi Tewari, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from the 2014 batch, has been appointed as the private secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved her appointment, marking an important development in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
Originally from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Tewari joined the PMO in November 2022 as an Under Secretary. In January 2023, she was promoted to Deputy Secretary and has since played a key role in the administration.
Before her tenure at the PMO, she served in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), where she worked in the Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division, directly reporting to National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
An official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training confirmed her appointment, stating: "The ACC has approved the appointment of Nidhi Tewari, IFS (2014), currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, as private secretary to the PM in Level 12 of the pay matrix with immediate effect, on a co-terminus basis or until further orders, whichever is earlier."
Prior to this appointment, Prime Minister Modi had two private secretaries: Hardik Satishchandra Shah and Vivek Kumar. The addition of Tewari to this role signifies a further strengthening of the PMO, as the Modi government embarks on its third term with a vision of ambitious reforms to boost India's economy.
Tewari has been closely involved in handling key portfolios related to external affairs, atomic energy, and security matters. Her expertise in foreign policy was particularly evident during India’s G20 presidency, where she contributed significantly.
Her appointment comes at a time when the government is making strategic changes in top administrative roles. Just last week, Pawan Yadav, the former Deputy Commissioner of Manipur's Churachandpur district, was appointed as the private secretary to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Tewari's career progression reflects her deep understanding of governance and international diplomacy. She secured the 96th rank in the 2013 Civil Services Examination and previously worked as an Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Tax) in Varanasi before joining the IFS.
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