Nitish Kumar’s Aide Deepak Kumar Likely to Join NITI Aayog Amid Delhi Move

Brief By Newsbrief / 2:12 PM on 16 Apr 2026

Retired IAS officer Deepak Kumar, a long-time confidant of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is likely to move to Delhi and join NITI Aayog in an advisory capacity. The development comes amid growing speculation about Nitish Kumar’s expanding role in national politics. Known for his administrative acumen, Kumar has held several key positions in Bihar, including district magistrate and principal secretary to the Chief Minister.

He also served at the Centre as Director General of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and chaired the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur. His expected entry into NITI Aayog is seen as a strategic move to strengthen policy coordination and bring Bihar’s governance experience to the national stage.

Officials suggest this transition may coincide with Nitish Kumar’s increased engagement in broader political and administrative matters beyond the state, signaling a possible shift in his political trajectory.