Nidhi Tewari, a young and talented Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 2014 batch, has been named Private Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Her appointment was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet with immediate effect, according to the memorandum released by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on March 29.
Who is Nidhi Tewari?
Tewari secured the 96th rank in the Civil Services Examination in 2013. She hails from Mehmurganj in Varanasi, which has been Prime Minister Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency since 2014. Before clearing the examination, she worked as an Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Tax) in Varanasi while preparing for the civil services.
Nidhi Tewari appointed as Private Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. pic.twitter.com/erpTlJfjfn
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 31, 2025
Her Journey in the PMO
Nidhi Tewari joined the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) over three years ago. She began her journey as an undersecretary in 2022 and was elevated to Deputy Secretary on January 6, 2023. She served in the ‘Foreign and Security’ vertical, answering to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Nidhi was tasked with important areas such as External Affairs, Atomic Energy, Security Affairs, and Rajasthan-related issues.
Nidhi Tewari formerly served in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), serving under the Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division. She has used her experience in international security issues to become a dominant figure in the bureaucracy.
A Trusted Officer in the PMO
With her long experience in external affairs and security, Nidhi Tewari is well-suited for her new role as Private Secretary to the Prime Minister. Her appointment is the third Private Secretary to PM Modi, after Vivek Kumar and Hardik Satishchandra Shah.
Nidhi’s path from a tax official in Varanasi to a senior bureaucratic role in the PMO speaks volumes for her determination and grit. Her position will prove to be key in helping the Prime Minister with several important issues about governance as well as foreign affairs.
