UPSC Success Story: How Nidhi Tewari Who Got 96th Rank In UPSC Became PM Modi’s Private Secretary – News18

Last Updated:April 01, 2025, 19:02 IST

Nidhi Tewari, a 2014 IFS officer, has been appointed Prime Minister Modi’s private secretary. Know her education and early career.

Nidhi Tewari, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from the 2014 batch, has been appointed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s private secretary. Her appointment was confirmed by a Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) order on March 29, which took effect immediately after being approved by the Cabinet’s Appointments Committee. Her new position, which is at Level 12 of the pay matrix, will commence concurrently with her existing one or until further instructions are provided.

Tewari began her career in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in November 2022 as an Under Secretary and was promoted to Deputy Secretary in January 2023. In her role, she managed key portfolios related to security and foreign affairs before her most recent promotion.

Tewari will leave her current position to assume new duties in the Prime Minister’s Office under the order dated March 29. Her tenure will continue to be aligned with the current administration’s term until further instructions are issued.

Nidhi Tewari Education And Career

Nidhi Tewari hails from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and completed her schooling there. She pursued her undergraduate studies in Political Science at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi, a prestigious institution in India known for its strong focus on arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Tewari worked as an Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Tax) in Varanasi before she decided to take the Civil Services Examination (CSE) in 2013. She secured 96th place in the examination and was selected for the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in the 2014 batch.

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She worked in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division before joining the PMO.

In the PMO, Tewari was instrumental in managing the “Foreign and Security” vertical under the guidance of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. This vertical deals with sensitive national security issues, diplomatic relations, and global security policies. Tewari has worked on critical policy areas including External Affairs, Atomic Energy, and Security Affairs.

She also played a significant role in India’s G20 chairmanship.