New Delhi: Pradeep Kumar Sinha, an IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, was on Friday appointed the new cabinet secretary. He will succeed Ajit Seth.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the appointment of Pradeep Kumar Sinha as the next cabinet secretary with effect from June 13, 2015," a PMO press release said.

Sources said the government appoints the cabinet secretary 15 days to one month before the date of his formal taking over and the senior official then works as officer on special duty in the cabinet secretariat.

Sinha, a 1977 batch IAS officer, was secretary, power, before his elevation as cabinet secretary.

He has served in several other ministries, including shipping and petroleum and natural gas.

Seth was appointed cabinet secretary by the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2011 and was given two extensions by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

-IANS