Tuhin Kant Pandey becomes new Revenue Secretary, Arunish Chawla will handle DIPAM

High-level changes have been made in the Finance Ministry ahead of the Union Budget 2025. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved reshuffle on many important posts. The most important changes are related to the Revenue Department and the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM). The purpose of these appointments is to speed up administrative and economic work before the budget.

Tuhin Kant Pandey: New responsibility as Revenue Secretary

Tuhin Kant Pandey, a 1987 batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre and current Finance Secretary, has been appointed as Revenue Secretary. He already holds the post of Secretary of DIPAM, which he has handled very efficiently. Now, while performing the duties of Finance Secretary, he will also play the role of Revenue Secretary.

Pandey’s past achievements

• Played an important role in successfully carrying out the privatization of Air India.
• Monitoring of historical listings of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).
• While heading DIPAM, he effectively implemented policies related to management and privatization of public assets.

Educational Background and Experience

• Pandey holds a master’s degree in Economics from Panjab University and an MBA from the UK.
• In his career he has held many key responsibilities at both the Central and State levels.
• Held positions like Executive Director of Odisha State Finance Corporation (OSFC) and Managing Director of Odisha Small Industries Corporation (OSIC).
• Apart from this, he has also been the District Magistrate of Sambalpur district.

Arunish Chawla: New Secretary of DIPAM

Arunish Chawla, a 1992 batch Bihar cadre IAS officer, has been appointed Secretary of DIPAM. Earlier, Chawla was holding the post of Revenue Secretary. Now he will also hold the additional charge of Secretary of the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) and the Ministry of Culture along with DIPAM.

Chawla’s career and experience

• Chawla took over as Revenue Secretary on 25 December 2023.
• Earlier, he served as Pharma Secretary in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
• Chawla has taken many major decisions in the field of public policy and administration.

Why are these cabinet changes important?

Direct impact on budget preparation

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the budget in Parliament on 1 February 2025. This budget is coming at a time when the country’s economy is growing rapidly and the government is focusing on new measures to increase revenue.

• The new responsibility of the Revenue Department will give Pandey the opportunity to effectively implement the government’s tax system and revenue enhancing schemes.
• As Secretary of DIPAM, Chawla will give a new direction to the management of public assets and disinvestment programmes.

purpose of changes

• Better implementation of economic policies.
• Accelerating the management and privatization of public assets.
• Implementing concrete measures to increase government revenue.

Pandey’s contribution to the Finance Ministry

Become Finance Secretary in September 2024

After becoming Finance Secretary, Pandey carried out many important reforms. Under his leadership the Finance Ministry took many successful initiatives.

• Privatization of Air India: He successfully completed this process which was pending for decades.
• Listing of LIC: This was a historic step in the Indian stock market.
• Managed public assets and disinvestment plans under DIPAM.

Arunish Chawla’s new role

Priority in DIPAM

After becoming the chief of DIPAM, Chawla’s focus will be on privatization of government companies and management of public assets.

• He will also hold additional charge of the Department of Public Enterprises and Ministry of Culture.
• His priority will be to rapidly implement the pending privatization projects.

Experience from Revenue Department

Chawla has deep experience in revenue related reforms. This will prove helpful to them for their work in DIPAM.