The government of India has extended the term of the current Foreign Secretary of India, Vikram Misri, till 14 July 2026. The Department of Personnel and Training issued a notification to this effect on 11 November 2024.

The notification was issued after the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved Vikram Misri's extension.

Vikram Misri, a member of the 1989 Indian Foreign Service batch, took over as the 35th Foreign Secretary of India on 15 July 2024. He was due to retire on 30 November 2024.

The government of India has the power to extend the term of the foreign secretary beyond the due date of retirement in the public interest.

For details about Vikram Misri, click.

Vikram Misri appointed as the 35th Foreign Secretary of India

Justice BR Gavai appointed Executive Chairman of NLSA

President Droupadi Murmu has appointed senior Supreme Court Judge Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Service Authority (NLSA). Justice B R Gavai succeeds Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who was appointed the 51st Chief Justice of India.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna was sworn in as 51st CJI by President Murmu

By convention, the seniormost judge of the Supreme Court, excluding the Chief Justice of India, is appointed as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Service Authority.

The Chief Justice of India is ex-officio the Patron-in-Chief of the National Legal Service Authority.

Justice B R Gavai started his judicial career as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in November 2003 and was subsequently made a permanent judge in November 2005.

He was appointed Supreme Court Judge in 2019 and is due to retire on 23rd November 2025.

About National Legal Service Authority

The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is a statutory body constituted under the provisions of the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987.

The National Legal Service Act 1987 establishes a Legal Service Authority at the National, State, and District levels to provide free legal aid to the weaker sections of society and conduct Lok Adalat for the settlement of legal disputes.

National Level

At the national level, the National Legal Service Authority has been set up under the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi.

State Level

At the State level, the State Legal Services Authority has been established at the respective High Courts of the State. The Chief Justice of the High Court is the Patron in Chief of the State Legal Service Authority, and a senior judge is the Executive Chairman.

District Level

In every District of India, a District Legal Services Authority has been established in the District Courts. The District Judge of the respective district heads it.