Retd IAS Tarun Kapoor appointed advisor to PM for third time; tenure extended till June 2027

June 5, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again placed his trust in Tarun Kapoor, a retired IAS officer from the Himachal cadre. PM Modi has appointed Kapoor as an Advisor in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for the third time; he will now serve in this role until June 10, 2027. The Union Department of Personnel issued orders to this effect on Thursday evening.

Tarun Kapoor is also known as the “Solar Man.” He played a significant role in promoting solar energy in Himachal Pradesh. The Centre’s “PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana” (Free Electricity Scheme) is also the result of Kapoor’s vision. The BJP has set a target of bringing electricity bills down to zero for all households, and under this scheme, solar power plants are being installed on homes.

Kapoor is known for his professional competence and soft-spoken nature. Unlike some other bureaucrats, he never embraced the “red beacon” culture; he is easily accessible to anyone wishing to meet him to get their work done. He has never been embroiled in controversies or faced allegations of corruption.

Retired in November 2022

A 1987-batch IAS officer of the Himachal cadre, Tarun Kapoor retired as Secretary of the Union Ministry of Petroleum in November 2022. He had been serving in Himachal until 2019. When he moved to Delhi on central deputation, he held the rank of Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) in Himachal, overseeing key departments such as Forests, Environment Science & Technology, and Power.

Served as DC of Shimla and Chamba

Upon moving to Delhi on central deputation in 2019, Kapoor served at the Delhi Jal Board and subsequently as Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum. Before this, he had held various responsibilities, including serving as the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Shimla and Chamba.