India's Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar tested positivefor the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, following which the defence ministrycarried out a massive contact-tracing exercise, official sources said.

Ajay Kumar's condition is stable and he is currentlyunder home-quarantine, sources said.

At least 35 officials working at the ministry'sheadquarters in South Block in the Raisina Hills have been sent on homequarantine after reports of Kumar testing positive for the infection emerged onWednesday morning.

There was no official comment on Kumar's healthcondition. The defence ministry spokesperson refused to comment on the issue.

It is learnt that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh didnot attend office as part of a precautionary measure.

The offices of the defence minister, the defencesecretary, the Army Chief and the Navy Chief are on the first floor of theSouth Block.

The sources said all laid down protocols oncontact-tracing and quarantining of people are being scrupulously followed.