The government has appointed Arunish Chawla as the new Revenue Secretary, succeeding Sanjay Malhotra, who recently became the RBI Governor.
Key Highlights:
- Chawla is a 1992-batch IAS officer from the Bihar cadre.
- He holds a PhD and postgraduate degree in Economics from the London School of Economics.
- Chawla previously served as Pharmaceutical Secretary.
- He will now be overseeing the Income-tax Act review and preparing for the Union Budget presentation.
Background and Career Path:
Arunish Chawla, a seasoned bureaucrat, has an impressive background in economics and public service. Let’s dive deeper into his career:
PhD Holder and International Experience:
- Chawla holds a PhD and a postgraduate degree in Economics from the London School of Economics.
- He has served as Minister (Economics) at the Indian Embassy in the US and as a Senior Economist with the IMF.
Previous Roles and Responsibilities:
- Chawla previously served as Joint Secretary in the Expenditure Department.
- He has now been appointed as the Revenue Secretary, marking his second stint in the Finance Ministry.
Upcoming Tasks and Responsibilities:
As the newly appointed Revenue Secretary, Chawla will be tasked with critical responsibilities and initiatives:
Immediate Focus Areas:
- Finalizing revenue numbers and preparing for the Union Budget presentation on February 1.
- Overseeing a comprehensive review of the Income-tax Act to introduce a new framework.
Additional Roles:
- Chawla will serve as the ex-officio Secretary to the GST Council.
- He is expected to retire in July 2028.
Other Key Appointments:
Several other bureaucratic transfers have taken place alongside Chawla’s appointment:
- Amit Agrawal will replace Chawla as Pharmaceutical Secretary.
- Neelam Shami Rao has been appointed as the new Textiles Secretary.
- Vineet Joshi will take over as the new Higher Education Secretary.
- Neeraj Shekhar has been appointed as Director General in the National Productivity Council.
Key Takeaways for Competitive Exams:
For competitive exams, it’s essential to remember the following key points:
- Arunish Chawla appointed as the new Revenue Secretary by the government.
- Chawla holds a PhD and postgraduate degree in Economics from the London School of Economics.
- Chawla’s immediate tasks include finalizing revenue numbers and overseeing the Income-tax Act review.
