News Digest

New Defence Secretary

Mr Yogendra Narain, a 1965 batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service took over as Defence Secretary on October 20 last. Mr Narain, who succeeded Mr T R Prasad, was earlier Chief Secretary to UP Government.

Mr Narain has held various senior administrative positions at the centre and in the state of UP including Principal Secretary, Irrigation and Power and Secretary to three State Chief Ministers as well as Principal Secretary to the Governor of UP. At the centre, he held the appointments of Secretary, Surface Transport and Chairman, National Highway Authority of India before he took over as Chief Secretary of UP in April 1998. He was also the founder Chairman of the Greater NOIDA Industrial Development Authority. Among other important assignments in Uttar Pradesh, Mr Narain had been the District Magistrate of Muzaffarnagar and had successfully tackled the communal riots which took place in the district. He had also been the District Magistrate and Commissioner of the state capital of Lucknow.

On September 30 last, Lt Gen Chandra Shekhar vacated the chair of Vice Chief of Army Staff for Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi. Commissioned on December 13, 1959 Lt Gen Chandra Shekhar had taken over as VCOAS on September 30, 1997. His successor, Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi is a Maratha Light Infantry officer of the June 1961 batch. The photo shows Lt Gen Chandra Shekhar inspecting a guard of honour before laying down the office.