NEW DELHI, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Indian government appointed Ajay Kumar Bhalla as the country's new home secretary, an official statement said on Thursday.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved Bhalla as the new home secretary.

Bhalla belonged to 1984 batch of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and is currently serving as an officer on special duty (OSD) in the Home Ministry.

Bhalla will have a fixed two-year tenure till August 2021 as the home secretary.

He succeeded Rajiv Gauba, who was appointed as the new cabinet secretary on Wednesday.

The home secretary holds a high post in the Ministry of Home Affairs.