<p>Seasoned bureaucrat Giridhar Aramane on Tuesday assumed charge as the new defence secretary at a time the government has been focusing on modernising the three services.</p>.<p>Aramane, a 1988-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was serving as secretary of the ministry of road transport and highways prior to his new assignment.</p>.<p>Before taking charge, Aramane laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and paid homage to the fallen heroes.</p>.<p>"We draw inspiration from these bravehearts and promise to work towards fulfilling their dream of making India a safe and prosperous country," he said.</p>.<p>Aramane succeeded Ajay Kumar, who retired from service on Monday.</p>.<p>In his 32-year career as an IAS officer, Aramane has held various important positions in the central government as well as the Andhra Pradesh government. </p>.<p>He also served as an additional secretary in the cabinet secretariat. Aramane looked after the exploration division in the ministry of petroleum and natural gas and was executive director in-charge of inspections in the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA).</p>.<p>He is a B Tech in Civil Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, and M Tech from IIT, Madras.</p>.<p>He also did MA (Economics) from Kakatiya University, Warangal.</p>
<p>Seasoned bureaucrat Giridhar Aramane on Tuesday assumed charge as the new defence secretary at a time the government has been focusing on modernising the three services.</p>.<p>Aramane, a 1988-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was serving as secretary of the ministry of road transport and highways prior to his new assignment.</p>.<p>Before taking charge, Aramane laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and paid homage to the fallen heroes.</p>.<p>"We draw inspiration from these bravehearts and promise to work towards fulfilling their dream of making India a safe and prosperous country," he said.</p>.<p>Aramane succeeded Ajay Kumar, who retired from service on Monday.</p>.<p>In his 32-year career as an IAS officer, Aramane has held various important positions in the central government as well as the Andhra Pradesh government. </p>.<p>He also served as an additional secretary in the cabinet secretariat. Aramane looked after the exploration division in the ministry of petroleum and natural gas and was executive director in-charge of inspections in the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA).</p>.<p>He is a B Tech in Civil Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, and M Tech from IIT, Madras.</p>.<p>He also did MA (Economics) from Kakatiya University, Warangal.</p>