From UPSC AIR 96 to PM Modi's private secretary: Meet IFS officer Nidhi Tiwari

Nidhi Tiwari's journey to the Prime Minister's Office began with a UPSC dream. The 2014-batch Indian Foreign Service officer secured All India Rank 96, worked on key foreign policy and security matters, and steadily rose through the ranks before becoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's private secretary.Nidhi Tiwari's journey to the Prime Minister's Office began with a UPSC dream. (AI-enhanced image)Years before she began working in the Prime Minister's Office, Nidhi Tiwari was preparing for one of India's toughest examinations, the UPSC Civil Services Examination.Today, the 2014-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer serves as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's private secretary, a role that comes after years of experience in diplomacy, foreign affairs and national security.HER EDUCATION AND UPSC JOURNEYOriginally from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Nidhi completed her higher education at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where she studied Political Science.Her path to the civil services was marked by perseverance. In the 2013 UPSC Civil Services Examination, she secured All India Rank 96, earning a place in the prestigious Indian Foreign Service. She joined the 2014 IFS batch and began her diplomatic career. Before entering the civil services, she also served as an Assistant Commissioner in the Commercial Tax Department in Varanasi.BUILDING A CAREER IN FOREIGN POLICYAs an IFS officer, Nidhi worked in the Ministry of External Affairs, where she handled matters related to disarmament and international security. The role gave her experience in sensitive diplomatic and strategic issues that would later become central to her responsibilities. In November 2022, she joined the Prime Minister's Office as an Under Secretary. She was later promoted to Deputy Secretary, where she dealt with foreign affairs and security-related matters and worked closely on issues linked to national security.RISING THROUGH THE PMOHer steady rise through the government culminated in her appointment as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's private secretary, one of the most important administrative positions in the PMO.From securing a top rank in the UPSC examination to handling critical diplomatic assignments and serving in the country's highest executive office, Nidhi Tiwari's journey reflects a career built on academic achievement, public service and years of experience in international affairs.- EndsPublished On: Aug 13, 2026 19:47 IST