On Friday, it was announced that Hardik Shah, a Gujarat cadre IAS officer, will be appointed as the private secretary to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. Hardik Shah says he is surprised.
Hardik was appointed as the deputy secretary for the Prime Minister’s office last year. He is also the youngest IAS officer and the first promotee IAS officer to be appointed to this post. He will become the second Gujarat cadre officer to serve as the private secretary to the Prime Minister after Rajeev Topno. When he was contacted, he said,
“It is a big surprise for me. I am obliged to the Prime Minister for putting trust in my abilities. I will give my best.”
Shah had started his career when he served as a junior engineer in the pollution control board of Gujarat state. At that time, he was also the youngest member secretary of the board. He has earned the reputation of making the operations of the board modern and transparent. Throughout his graduate career in Bachelor of Technology and Master of Technology and also in his law course. He was finally selected for IAS in the year 2010.
Hand-Picked By Narendra Modi
Previously, he was hand-picked by Narendra Modi to be the private secretary to the Ministry of Environment, forest and climate change, and information and broadcasting. Two years later, he was appointed as deputy secretary in the PMO. Apparently, Shah had an immense contribution to the national plan to control the plastic menace and environment conservation. He also had a key role in controlling pollution and promoting environmental protection in various states.
Shah has completed his doctorate in environmental engineering from the Harvard Kennedy School. He has immense experience working with Nobel laureates like Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and professor Michael Greenstone and John Briscoe, an expert on green best practices.
Source: The Times of India
