Govind Mohan, a 1989 batch Sikkim cadre IAS officer, has been appointed as union Home Secretary. He will replace Ajay Kumar Bhalla on completion of his tenure on August 22, 2024.
Mohan, who is currently serving as secretary, union ministry of culture, will join home ministry as officer of special duty till Bhalla retires. Bhalla will finally retire after getting four extensions in a row.
Mohan has a good experience of handling home affairs as he had handled assignments of additional secretary and joint secretary in the union home ministry.
Mohan was Secretary to former chief minister Vasundhara Raje
Govind Mohan is a high profile IAS officer. Despite being from Sikkim cadre, he had served in Rajasthan on an inter cadre deputation. He was secretary to Vasundhra Raje when she was appointed as chief minister of Rajasthan for the first time in 2003. That time he was considered to be the most powerful officer.
He stayed there in Rajasthan for 27 months and played a critical role in establishing Raje as effective chief minister. Later due to some difference of opinion, Mohan had to return to his home cadre in between.
Govind Mohan coordinates Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan
Govind Mohan is the secretary of Ministry of Culture, which coordinates the Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan – the nationwide campaign launched in 2022 as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.'
When the Abhiyan was first launched in 2022, there was a significant challenge in meeting the demand for flags.
To address this, the central government procured national flags from large vendors and distributed approximately 7.5 crore flags to states, directly and through post offices. To further support the initiative, Prime Minister Modi initiated revision of the Flag Code of India, enabling the involvement of various stakeholders in flag production, including women's SHGs.
By the second year, the demand for central government-supplied national flags significantly dropped to around 2.5 crore, as women's SHGs increasingly took over flag production.
In 2024, the demand for central government-supplied flags further decreased to just 20 lakhs, with SHGs becoming the primary producers. Across India, approximately 25 crore flags are needed annually, one for every home.
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