New Delhi: Nripendra Misra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed his wish to be relieved. Modi has asked him to continue for another two weeks. Former Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha, also a retired UP cadre officer has been appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the PMO.

Nripendra Misra, the 1967 batch retired IAS officer has been Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s key aide for five years. Misra was one of the first retired bureaucrats inducted into the Prime Minister’s Office after Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party won the 2014 national elections.

Nripendra Misra’s decision to exit the PMO is being attributed to personal reasons.

PM Modi tweeted, “After serving the PMO assiduously and diligently for over five years and making an indelible contribution to India’s growth trajectory, Shri Nripendra Misra Ji will be embarking on a new phase of his life. My best wishes to him for his future endeavours.”

“Shri Nripendra Misra is among the most outstanding officers, who has a great grasp of public policy and administration. When I was new to Delhi in 2014, he taught me a lot and his guidance remains extremely valuable,” he added.