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Vishvajit Sahay and Bharat Khera Take Charge as Secretaries in Defence and MSME Ministries

Vishvajit Sahay, a 1990 batch IDAS officer, has taken charge as Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, bringing over three decades of experience in Defence Finance. Bharat Khera, a 1995 batch IAS officer, has assumed the role of Secretary in the Ministry of MSME, with extensive administrative experience. Sahay previously served as Controller General of Defence Accounts and held key positions in various ministries. Khera has served in the Ministry of Defence and Cabinet Secretariat, handling critical assignments including national ceremonial events.

Key Points: Vishvajit Sahay, Bharat Khera Assume Secretary Roles

  • Vishvajit Sahay assumes charge as Secretary, Defence Finance
  • Bharat Khera takes charge as Secretary, MSME Ministry
  • Sahay is a 1990 batch IDAS officer with over 30 years experience
  • Khera is a 1995 batch IAS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre
2 min read

Vishvajit Sahay takes charge as Secretary, Defence Finance; Bharat Khera as Secretary in MSME Ministry

Vishvajit Sahay becomes Defence Finance Secretary; Bharat Khera takes charge as MSME Secretary. Both bring decades of experience.

"The MSME sector contributes over 30 per cent to India's GDP and plays a pivotal role in employment generation, manufacturing and exports. - Official Statement"

New Delhi, May 1

Vishvajit Sahay, a 1990 batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service, assumed the charge as Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, an official statement said on Friday.

Prior to this appointment, he served as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA).

An alumnus of St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi and a law graduate, Sahay brings over three decades of extensive experience in Defence Finance and Public Administration.

According to a ministry statement, he has held several key positions, including Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Department of Science and Technology; Joint Secretary in the Department of Heavy Industries; Finance Manager (Acquisition Wing) in the Ministry of Defence; and Director in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Within the Defence Accounts Department, he has served in various capacities such as Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Prayagraj, Joint CGDA and Special CGDA.

He also represented India at various international training forums, including those at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, and the George C. Marshall European Centre for Security Studies, Germany.

Meanwhile, Bharat Khera has assumed charge as Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

A 1995-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, Khera brings with him more than three decades of administrative experience across key assignments in both the Central and State Governments. Prior to assuming his present role, he served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs, according to an official statement.

Khera served for over five years as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence from November 2014 to February 2020.

As Joint Secretary (Air), he handled matters related to the Indian Air Force and was also entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating national ceremonial events, including Republic Day celebrations, for four consecutive years from 2017 to 2020.

He additionally oversaw matters related to the Border Roads Organisation and international cooperation in the Ministry of Defence.

Subsequently, Khera served as Joint Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat for nearly two years, where he handled the Commerce and Industry and Technology verticals and contributed to strategic policy-making during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The MSME sector contributes over 30 per cent to India's GDP and plays a pivotal role in employment generation, manufacturing and exports.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

V
Vikram M
Happy to see an IDAS officer getting secretary rank. Defence accounts need people who understand ground realities, not just IAS officers parachuting in. Hope he simplifies pension issues for our ex-servicemen - that's a long pending demand.
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Priya S
Important appointments. MSMEs are the backbone of our economy, contributing 30% to GDP. Secretary Khera's experience in defence and cabinet secretariat will bring strategic thinking to the sector. SMEs really need easier access to credit and less red tape 👍
A
Aman W
Both have excellent credentials - Cambridge, Marshall Centre, handling Republic Day coordination. But let's see actual outcomes. Bureaucratic shuffles alone won't solve challenges like defence modernisation delays or MSME credit issues. Implementation matters more than CVs.
S
Sneha F
Interesting to see an IDAS officer get this role - typically IAS officers dominate secretary positions. Mr. Sahay's law background plus 3 decades in defence finance is a great combination. Hope he brings efficiency to procurement processes. Defence budget needs smarter utilisation 💡
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Rajesh Q
Good appointments, but I hope both secretaries focus on reducing delays. MSMEs are struggling with compliance burden and defence projects face cost overruns. Experienced officers like these should streamline processes, not just maintain status quo. Let's see some reforms.
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