Ajay Kumar Bhalla Age, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Ajay Kumar Bhalla

• Ajay Kumar Bhalla is a senior IAS officer who was appointed as Home Secretary of India on 22 August 2019. Previously, he served as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Ministry of Home Affairs (26 July 2019 – 23 August 2019). He has held various administrative positions like Secretary of Ministry of Power (30 June 2017 – 25 July 2019), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal (8 January 2015 to 12 April 2015) and Joint Secretary (Ports) in the Department of Shipping (April 2005 – May 2007). He received four one-year extensions, in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

• Ajay Kumar Bhalla hails from Bihar.
  

  An old picture of Ajay Kumar Bhalla

•  An IAS officer of the 1984 batch, Bhalla belongs to the Assam Meghalaya cadre. His service commenced on 21 August 1984 after which he undertook a variety of roles within this cadre in both Assam and Meghalaya.

• Between May 2002 and March 2005, Bhalla held the position of Director (Ports) within the Department of Shipping. In this capacity, he was responsible for overseeing the operational and human resource development aspects of major ports across the country.

• Subsequently, from April 2005 to May 2007, he assumed the role of Joint Secretary (Ports) within the Department of Shipping. This role involved supervising matters related to port development, operations, and HRD for major ports.

• Bhalla was appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Coal on 1 July 2010.

• He served as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Coal from 8 January 2015 to 12 April 2015. During this time, he managed the allocation and allotment of coal blocks.

• On 13 April 2015, he was designated as an Additional Secretary within the Department of Commerce.

• On 4 August 2015, he assumed the role of Designated Authority, Directorate General Anti Dumping.

• Bhalla was appointed as Director General of Foreign Trade on 20 October 2016. In addition to this role, he also held the additional charge of Director at IIFT from 29 November 2016 to 30 June 2017.

• He served as the Secretary of the Ministry of Power from 30 June 2017 to 25 July 2019.
  

  Jitendra Singh presenting the Certificate of Appreciation to the Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ajay Kumar Bhalla for implementation of the e-office programme in the ministry in New Delhi

• In 2019, a significant reshuffle of Secretaries within the Modi government resulted in his appointment as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for the Ministry of Home Affairs.

• In August 2019, Bhalla took over the role of Home Secretary of India, succeeding Rajiv Gauba.
  

  Ajay Kumar Bhalla taking charge as Union Home Secretary from Shri Rajiv Gauba in 2019

• Apart from his salary as per Level 17 of the 7th Pay Commission, Bhalla became eligible for a Diplomatic passport as Home Secretary. He moved to the official residence of the Union Home Secretary, a Type-VIII bungalow, #3 in New Moti Bagh, New Delhi.

• Bhalla skillfully navigated the ministry through a series of challenging situations during his tenure as Home Secretary. Just two weeks prior to his appointment, the Central government took the decisive step of revoking Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the elimination of the region’s special status and its division into two Union territories. This move resulted in unrest and turmoil within the area. Bhalla was entrusted with the responsibility of effectively deploying available resources, including armed forces and central agencies, to prevent any outbreak of violence in the Valley. He not only successfully managed the situation at the time but also played a key role in significantly reducing terrorist activities and maintaining law and order incidents in Kashmir in the subsequent years.

• As 2019 came to a close, Bhalla was once again tasked with addressing challenges arising from the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which triggered communal riots.

• Bhalla took on the role of a pivotal figure in combating the Covid-19 pandemic. He assumed the chief nodal role in managing lockdown measures and providing guidance to states in their fight against the disease.

• The Ministry of Home Affairs also experienced several setbacks during Bhalla’s time as the Home Secretary. Despite over four years passing since the enactment of the CAA, the ministry failed to establish its accompanying regulations. Despite much rhetoric about the National Population Register, no progress was made on its update. Initially scheduled for 2021, the Census was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Surprisingly, even after the pandemic subsided, no indications of its occurrence were evident until the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
  

  Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla with Union Home Minister Amit Shah

• In August 2020, the Home Ministry faced another demanding situation when farmers initiated protests in Delhi, culminating in a violent turn of events as a faction of protestors diverted from the planned parade to breach the Red Fort in early 2021. Bhalla skillfully managed this situation as well. Additionally, he played a significant role in overseeing the establishment of the Ram Mandir Trust, a notable undertaking responsible for the construction of the Ram Temple.

• Although the official was initially scheduled to conclude his fixed two-year tenure and retire from service in November 2020, his term was prolonged on 17 October 2020, through an official order, extending it until 22 August 2021.

• Subsequently, he received two consecutive one-year extensions, continuing his service until 22 August 2023.

• Bhalla led the government’s endeavours in establishing the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD).

• He also played a significant role in advancing the progress of the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022. This legislation grants law enforcement agencies the authority to collect, retain, and analyze diverse data points from individuals who have been convicted or detained, including physical and biological information like retina and iris scans.

• He played a crucial part in banning the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates, including the Rehab India Foundation, Campus Front of India, National Women’s Front, and Junior Front in 2022.

• In 2023, Union Home Secretary Ajay K Bhalla was once again granted an additional one-year extension in his role, now serving until 22 August 2024. This extension was made in accordance with the relaxation of FR 56(d) and Rule 16(1A) of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958. At that time, the government was addressing various internal security challenges, including the Manipur unrest and the emergence of pro-Khalistan elements.

• After successfully completing his fourth one-year extension, Bhalla would become the second individual in the position of Union home secretary to serve for a period of five years or longer. The last time a home secretary held office for such an extensive duration was nearly 52 years ago, back in January 1971, when Lallan Prasad Singh concluded his tenure after serving over six years in the role.