Overview

• The Defence Ministry officially confirmed Dutt’s death in a condolence post on X, describing him as a decorated soldier and visionary administrator.
• A 1969-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, he earned the Army Medal for gallantry in the 1971 Indo-Pak war before joining the civil service.
• Dutt held key national security roles as defence secretary and deputy national security advisor, shaping policy at the highest levels of government.
• He served as governor of Chhattisgarh from 2010 to 2014, where he promoted education, agriculture and social welfare programs.
• State leaders including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai have expressed grief over his passing, with his cremation scheduled for July 3 at Brar Square Crematorium in Delhi Cantonment.