Just three weeks before the presentation of the Union Budget 2025-26, the government on January 8 opted to reshuffle the top brass of the Finance Ministry and appointed Finance Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey as the Revenue Secretary.
An old hand in the Finance Ministry, Pandey has so far held the charge of Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) as well as Public Enterprises. He takes over as the Revenue Secretary from Arunish Chawla, who was appointed as the Revenue Secretary on 25 December in view of Sanjay Malhotra’s advancement as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. Chawla has now been appointed as Deepam’s secretary.
While the late-night appointment came as a surprise, policy watchers note that it was made in view of the budget due on February 1. Pandey, was appointed as DIPAM Secretary in 2019 and has been in the Finance Ministry for a long time and knows it well. Along with the budgeting process.
He was also appointed as Finance Secretary in September 2024 and in this role, liaises with the departments of Economic Affairs, Revenue, Financial Services, Expenditure and DIPAM. Sources say it was also felt that given the complexity of the taxation proposals, an officer who is familiar with them could be better placed as revenue secretary ahead of the budget.
The Department of Revenue holds an important position in the Ministry as it works on direct and indirect tax policy measures and is also in charge of tax revenue collection for the Centre.
The appointment will mean that Pandey, who used to switch between his office at DIPAM in Delhi’s CGO complex and North Block, will now move to North Block full-time.
Officials also note that juggling the roles of revenue secretary and culture secretary would have been a tough task for Chawla.
As per the official order, Chawla has been posted as Secretary, Deepam and will hold additional charge as Secretary, DPE and Secretary, Ministry of Culture till appointment of regular office bearer or until further orders.
