Ajay Kumar Bhalla

Ajay Kumar Bhalla (born 26 November 1960) is the current Home Secretary of India. He assumed the office on 23 August 2019, succeeding Rajiv Gauba. He is a senior IAS officer of 1984 batch, from Assam Meghalaya cadre. He served as Home Secretary of India for around five years there till 22 August 2024. He hails from Jalandhar, Punjab, India.

Early life and education
Ajay Kumar Bhalla was born on 26 November 1960 in Jalandhar, Punjab, India. He completed his early education in Punjab before pursuing higher studies. Bhalla obtained his Master of Science degree in Botany from the University of Delhi. He further enhanced his academic qualifications by earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.

Career
Ajay Kumar Bhalla is a 1984-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre. Throughout his career, he has held several significant positions in the Indian government, showcasing his administrative expertise.

Union Home Secretary
Bhalla was appointed as the Union Home Secretary on August 22, 2019. His tenure has been marked by several significant events and challenges:
 * Oversaw the implementation of changes following the abrogation of Jammu & Kashmir's special status in 2019.
 * Managed the government's response to nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in late 2019.
 * Spearheaded the nation's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, overseeing lockdown measures and coordinating with states.
 * Handled various security challenges, including farmers' protests in Delhi and the Manipur conflict.

Bhalla's tenure as Home Secretary has been extended multiple times, with his fourth extension in August 2023 set to keep him in office until August 22, 2024. This will make him only the second Union Home Secretary to complete five or more years in office.

Previous Positions
Prior to his appointment as Home Secretary, Bhalla held several key positions in the Indian government:
 * 1) Secretary, Ministry of Power (July 2017 - July 2019)
 * 2) Director General of Foreign Trade
 * 3) Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce
 * 4) Joint Secretary, Ministry of Coal
 * 5) Director (Ports), Department of Shipping