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Narinder Nath Vohra Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 6, 2026 • 4 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth5 May 1936

Age89 Years (as of 2025)

BirthplacePunjab, British India (Now, Punjab, India)

ProfessionRetd. Civil Servant

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseUsha Vohra

FamilyDaughter - Sukriti Likhi (IAS, 1993 batch)

Narinder Nath Vohra Biography

Narinder Nath Vohra is a retired Indian Administrative Service officer and former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning more than five anda

Early life and background

Narinder Nath Vohra was born on 5 May 1936 in what was then Punjab, British India. He completed higher education at Panjab University and later pursued studies at Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford, earning a Master of Arts degree. His hometown is recorded as Punjab, and he is identified as Indian by nationality.

Before joining the civil service, Vohra worked as a lecturer at Panjab University. He entered the Indian Administrative Service in the 1959 batch for the Punjab cadre, reportedly securing the second rank in the country on the Civil Services Examination on his first attempt.

Career

Vohra built a long public service career across roles in the Punjab state government and the Union Government of India. In Punjab he held a range of senior administrative posts, including Labour Commissioner, Director of Information, Director of Panchayati Raj, Secretary and Commissioner for Urban Development, Commissioner and Secretary for Industries, and Finance Commissioner. He also served as Home Secretary for the state.

At the national level, he progressed through central government ministries. In 1977 he served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. He later became Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Defence in 1985, Defence Production Secretary in 1989, and Defence Secretary from 1990 to 1993. In 1993 he held the post of Home Secretary, and in 1997 he was appointed Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral. He retired from the IAS after a career that extended through 1994 in active service and continued his engagement in public affairs thereafter.

Beyond administrative appointments, Vohra contributed to policy and advisory bodies. He acted as a consultant to the World Health Organization and was named to the country’s first National Security Advisory Board from 1998 to 2001. He chaired the National Task Force on Internal Security in 2000 and served as founder co-chairman of the India–European Union Round Table. From 1999 to 2006 he was President of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation.

Public service in Jammu and Kashmir

Vohra later took on a key role in Jammu and Kashmir. Between 2003 and 2008 he served as Special Representative of the Government of India, a position in which he functioned as a channel of communication between elected officials and separatist groups. In 2008 he became Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and was reappointed to the post in 2013. During his gubernatorial tenure, the state experienced periods of direct rule by the governor, recorded in 2008, 2014, 2016 and 2018.

He is noted in public accounts for decisions taken during sensitive moments; for example, during the 2008 controversy over land allocation connected to the Amarnath pilgrimage, he presided over the withdrawal of the land transfer that had provoked mass unrest, a move described as intended to restore peace.

Public profile

Vohra has been recognized nationally for his service. In 2007 he received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, explicitly cited for his contributions in civil service. He has also been awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by Panjab University.

He is described as having edited more than a dozen books on governance and national security. Personal details recorded in public profiles include a height of approximately 175 cm (about 5'9") and weight around 75 kg (165 lbs). His hair is described as grey and his eye colour as black. He is identified as Hindu and as belonging to the Khatri community.

Personal life

Vohra is married to Usha Vohra, described in public accounts as a spiritual leader. The couple have a daughter, Sukriti Likhi, who is named as an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1993 batch assigned to the Haryana cadre. No names for his parents are provided in the available records.

Latest updates

Public information lists Vohra’s address as Raj Bhavan, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India, reflecting his long association with the state. Reported remuneration while serving as Governor included a salary figure noted as in effect around 2018, but a precise current net worth is not provided in the available material.

Vohra is remembered in public records as a career civil servant whose work has spanned administrative, security and advisory roles at both state and national levels, and whose later years included prominent responsibilities in Jammu and Kashmir.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Narinder Nath Vohra, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Governor of Jammu & Kashmir

Assumed office in 2008 and was reappointed in 2013; served as Governor during periods when Governor's rule was imposed in the state.

2008–2018
Special Representative of the Government of India for Jammu & Kashmir

Served as a communication channel between elected representatives and separatist groups.

2003–2008
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Career Highlights

  1. Joined the Indian Administrative Service, Punjab cadre, 1959 (All India Rank 2 in UPSC)
  2. Defence Secretary of India (1990–1993)
  3. Home Secretary of India (1993)
  4. Principal Secretary to Prime Minister I.K. Gujral (1997)
  5. President, Indian Mountaineering Foundation (1999–2006)
  6. Member, National Security Advisory Board (1998–2001)
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Narinder Nath Vohra born?

Narinder Nath Vohra was born on 5 May 1936.

What is Narinder Nath Vohra known for?

Narinder Nath Vohra is known for retd. Civil Servant.

What is Narinder Nath Vohra’s marital status?

Narinder Nath Vohra's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Narinder Nath Vohra married to?

Narinder Nath Vohra is publicly listed as married to Usha Vohra.