NEW DELHI, Mar 16: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s principal adviser PK Sinha is learnt to have quit his post. There was no official word from the government nor was the reason for relinquishing his office known so far.
Sinha’s office, however, confirmed on Tuesday that he had stepped down from his position a day earlier. “He has relinquished charge on March 15,’’ said a top official. The reason for Sinha’s exit is believed to be his health. “He’s having some issues and it was considered that it was better to be away from such a high-pressure job that he is in now. Sinha has been an exemplary officer who is a top performer,” the official said.
Sinha is a former 1977 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. In the first tenure of the Narendra Modi government, he served as the cabinet secretary, taking over from Ajit Seth. Before that, he was secretary in the ministry of power and shipping. When he retired in 2019, a special post was created for him at the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) as Officer on Special Duty.
After Nripendra Misra moved out of the PMO, Sinha was appointed the principal adviser. According to a September 2019 order, Sinha oversaw policy issues and matters relating to all ministries, departments, agencies and bodies.
(Manas Dasgupta)