Pradeep Kumar is new Defence Secretary

NEW DELHI: Pradeep Kumar, a 1972 batch IAS officer, today took over as the new Defence Secretary from incumbent Vijay Singh on the latter's retirement.

Kumar, a Haryana cadre officer, was until now Defence Production Secretary. He is a graduate in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and Masters in Economics and Social Studies from the University of Wales in United Kingdom.

With a rich experience in public administration, Kumar has held many senior positions in Haryana government and the Central government.

In Haryana, he has worked as Director of Industries, Principal Secretary, Power, Irrigation, Science and Technology, Town and Country Planning and Urban Estates departments.

In the Union government, he was Joint Secretary in the Heavy Industry Department, Additional Secretary in Coal Ministry, National Highways Authority of India Chairman and Secretary (Disinvestment) in Finance Ministry. He has also served on the Board of several Public Sector Undertakings.