Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s principal advisor Pradeep Kumar Sinha has quit, several media outlets reported on Tuesday. Sinha, who was with the PM’s Office (PMO) for 18 months, stepped down citing “personal grounds,” NDTV reported.

The 1977 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre had served in various key posts in both the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Government of India. He held key posts under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

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In Modi’s first term (2014-19), Sinha was the cabinet secretary for four years, which included three extensions. 

Although he retired in 2019, when Modi was voted back to power that year, he was taken into the PMO as Officer on Special Duty.

He was later appointed as PM’s principal advisor, a post that was created to accommodate. Sinha, however, didn’t hold any official rank, unlike his colleagues PK Mishra (principal secretary to the PM) and Ajit Doval (National Security Advisor), who hold cabinet rank.

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As a principal advisor, Sinha looked after policy matters of all ministries and departments and subjects that didn’t come under Doval and Mishra.