Tuhin Kanta Pandey appointed as the new Revenue Secretary, Arunish Chawla as DIPAM Secretary

In a significant reshuffle ahead of Union Budget 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved crucial changes in top positions within the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.

Tuhin Kanta Pandey, IAS officer of the 1987 Odisha cadre, currently Secretary of the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Revenue. He will continue to hold the designation of Finance Secretary.

Arunish Chawla, IAS officer of the 1992 Bihar cadre, the current Revenue Secretary, has been appointed Secretary of DIPAM and will also hold additional charge as Secretary of the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) and the Ministry of Culture until further orders.

Chawla was appointed on December 25 last year as the new Revenue Secretary in the Finance Ministry. Before that, he was Secretary Pharma in the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers.

These high-profile changes come as the government gears up for the Union Budget, to be presented on February 1 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Key reshuffle in secretary portfolios at Finance Ministry ahead of the Union Budget

FS & DIPAM Secy Tuhin Kanta Pandey appointed Revenue Secy

Revenue Secy Arunish Chawla appointed DIPAM Secy, to hold addl charge of DPE @CNBCTV18Live @CNBCTV18News @ShereenBhan

— Sapna Das (@Sapna_CNBC) January 8, 2025

Pandey is widely credited for his critical role in the successful privatisation of Air India and for overseeing the landmark public listing of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).

The seasoned bureaucrat holds a master’s degree in economics from Punjab University and an MBA from the UK. He has held several key positions, serving in various capacities both in Odisha and at the central government level, earning a reputation for executing complex financial and administrative reforms effectively.