Ajay Seth Assumes Additional Charge as Revenue Secretary

The government has assigned Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth the additional charge of Revenue Secretary following the appointment of Sanjay Malhotra as the new Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor. This transition reflects significant administrative shifts in India’s financial governance, effective immediately.

Appointment Details

Ajay Seth, a 1987 batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre, will hold dual responsibilities as Economic Affairs and Revenue Secretary until a permanent replacement is appointed. The decision was made by the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Seth’s expertise in public finance, taxation, foreign investments, and public-private partnerships positions him to effectively manage the responsibilities of both roles.

Ajay Seth’s Background and Achievements

Seth has served as Economic Affairs Secretary since April 2021. A graduate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Roorkee and an MBA from Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines, he brings over three decades of experience. His career highlights include:

• 18 years in public finance and taxation.
• Nearly three years in the social sector and urban infrastructure.
• International experience with the Asian Development Bank.
• Recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration (2013) for transforming Karnataka’s commercial tax administration.

Leadership at the Department of Revenue

The Department of Revenue oversees direct and indirect taxes via the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), under the Finance Ministry’s guidance. Seth’s appointment ensures continuity in the department’s functioning until a new secretary is named.

Sanjay Malhotra as RBI Governor

Sanjay Malhotra, a 1990 batch IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre, has succeeded Shaktikanta Das as RBI Governor, effective December 11. Malhotra, an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and Princeton University, brings expertise in computer science engineering and public policy.

Summary of the news

Why in News	Key Points
Appointment of Sanjay Malhotra as RBI Governor and Ajay Seth’s additional charge as Revenue Secretary	– Sanjay Malhotra appointed as RBI Governor, replacing Shaktikanta Das, effective December 11. – Ajay Seth, Economic Affairs Secretary, given additional charge of Revenue Secretary after Malhotra’s move. – Seth will hold the additional charge until a regular incumbent is appointed.
Ajay Seth’s Background	– Ajay Seth is a 1987-batch IAS officer from Karnataka cadre. – Holds BTech in Mechanical Engineering and MBA from Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines. – Currently serves as Economic Affairs Secretary since April 2021. – Awarded Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2013.
Department of Revenue’s Role	– Department oversees direct and indirect taxes through the CBDT and CBIC. – Comes under the supervision of the Union Finance Minister.
Sanjay Malhotra’s Background	– Sanjay Malhotra is a 1990-batch IAS officer from Rajasthan cadre. – Holds a computer science engineering degree from IIT Kanpur and a master’s in public policy from Princeton University.