Sh. Rajesh Kumar Singh

Patron of IDST (July 2026-till date)

Rajesh Kumar Singh (born 24 November 1964) is a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Kerala cadre.

He was appointed the 40th Defence Secretary of India by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and has been serving in the position since 1 November 2024. He earlier served as Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), and also as Secretary of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

In his career, he also served as Director of Works and Urban Transport in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Other positions he has held include Commissioner (Lands) in the Delhi Development Authority, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Joint Secretary in the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, and the Chief Vigilance Officer of the Food Corporation of India.

In his early career in the Kerala government, his posts included Urban Development Secretary and Finance Secretary.

He has taken additional charge of Secretary, Defence Research and Development (DDR&D) and Chairman, DRDO since 01 June 2026.