Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: Senior IPS officer Rajiv Singh has officially assumed the role of Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat. His new position grants him administrative oversight of the Special Protection Group, the elite unit tasked with guarding the Prime Minister and eligible family members. The 1993-batch Tripura cadre officer succeeds Parag Jain, who had managed the role on an interim basis since November 2025.
Singh moves to the central government after completing a challenging three-year tenure leading the Manipur Police. He arrived in the state in June 2023, shortly after ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities erupted. The conflict claimed over 260 lives and caused significant internal division within the state's 45,000-member police force, with many officers regrouping along ethnic lines and nearly 1,200 personnel going missing from duty.
To stabilize the department, Singh located and reinstated over 1,150 absent officers and conducted a virtual oath-taking ceremony for new recruits from both communities. His administration also dismantled militant bunkers and secured foothill farming regions. Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh publicly recognized these efforts on social media, stating he "sincerely appreciate[d] his dedicated service and significant contributions towards maintaining law and order and strengthening peace and stability in the state."
Political leaders and community representatives credited Singh for maintaining neutrality during the crisis. Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen commended his impartial approach, while local community leaders noted his commitment to the state despite the high level of polarization.
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