Tarun Bajaj gets revenue, BMRC’s Ajay Seth new economic affairs secretary

In a major bureaucratic reshuffle in the Union government, economic affairs secretary Tarun Bajaj has been shifted to the revenue department. Ajay Seth, a 1987 batch Karnatka cadre IAS officer will join as the new secretary of economic affairs in place of Bajaj.

New Delhi: In a major bureaucratic reshuffle in the Union government, economic affairs secretary Tarun Bajaj has been shifted to the revenue department. A 1988 batch Haryana cadre IAS officer Bajaj was holding additional charge of revenue department after the superannuation of Ajay Bhushan Pandey in February end.

Bajaj spent five years in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), from April 2015 to April 2020 when he was shifted from the PMO to the ministry of finance as the country was battling a fierce battle against the outbreak of Covid-19 global pandemic.

The government's decision to assign portfolio to Tarun Bajaj shows the IAS officer's clout in the ministry as the head of the revenue department he will oversee the functioning of both the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).

Revenue portfolio brings income tax department, enforcement directorate, GST intelligence and financial intelligence (FIU) unit under Bajaj’s supervision.

As an economic affairs secretary, Bajaj not only played a key role in formulating the Atma Nirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) scheme but he also played crucial role in deciding the macro-economic numbers for this year's budget, including the decision to keep fiscal deficit at 9.5% of the country's GDP for the last fiscal.

Ajay Seth, a 1987 batch Karnatka cadre IAS officer will join as the new secretary of economic affairs in place of Bajaj.

Karnataka cadre bureucrat Ajay Seth is currently serving as the managing director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC).

Seth comes to the Central deputation at a time when finances of both the Centre and State governments are weak due to the adverse economic impact of Covid-19 global pandemic, which has killed more than 1,65,0000 people in the country and more than 2.8 million people worldwide.

As a result of the Covid-19 induced lockdowns, Indian economy is expected -to shrink by nearly 8% in the last fiscal.

In the order issued on Tuesday, a total 8 IAS officers have been given the charge of different departments or have been elevated to the post of secretary in the government of India.

A 1988 batch Kerala cadre IAS officer Gyanesh Kumar has been elevated from additional secretary department of home affairs to secretary in the ministry of parliamentary affairs. Kumar will replace RS Shukla who is retiring on month end.

Ali Raza Rizvi, a 1988 batch Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS officer has been made secretary in the department of public enterprises in the ministry of heavy industries. Rizvi is special secretary in the ministry of information and broadcasting. He will replace 1985 batch IAS officer Sailesh who has been appointed a member of Public Enterprise Selection Board.

Indevar Pandey, a 1988 batch West Bengal cadre IAS officer has been appointed secretary in Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances and Department of Pensions and Pensioners Welfare. Pandey will succeed 1986 batch Maharashtra cadre IAS officer Kshatrapati Shivaji who retired on March end.

Anjali Bhawra, a 1988 batch Punjab cadre IAS officer has been appointed secretary in the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities,

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. She will succeed 1984 batch IAS officer Shakuntala D. Gamlin who superannuated in March end.

Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer of 1988 batch, Jatindra Nath Swain has been appointed secretary in the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. Swain was earlier managing director of Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited.

Anil Kumar Jha, a 1988 batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer has been appointed as secretary in the ministry of tribal affairs. Jha was special secretary in the department of revenue in the ministry of finance.

(Krishnanand Tripathi)