New Delhi: In a significant development, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the extension of Saurabh Shukla (IA&AS:2005) as Director in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for one more year. His tenure, which was set to end on October 19, 2025, will now continue until October 19, 2026, according to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). The extension has been granted in relaxation of existing guidelines.
Fourth Consecutive Extension
Shukla has been serving in the PMO since August 30, 2019, when his appointment was first approved by the DoPT. Initially, his deputation was up to October 19, 2022, but before its completion, he was granted a one-year extension. Since then, he has received multiple consecutive extensions, with this being his fourth one-year extension.
Key Roles in Government Service
Before moving to the PMO, Saurabh Shukla served as Private Secretary to the then Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, from July 2017 until Jaitley’s demise in August 2019. Shortly after, he was shifted to the Prime Minister’s Office as Director, where he continues to play a crucial role in handling key responsibilities.
Continuity in PMO Leadership
The extension reflects the government’s confidence in Shukla’s administrative capabilities and underscores the importance of continuity in leadership within the Prime Minister’s Office, especially for critical decision-making and coordination roles.
