New Delhi: The Indian government has appointed senior IAS officer TV Somanathan as the new Cabinet Secretary. Somanathan, currently serving as the Finance Secretary, will assume office on August 30 and hold the position for the next two years.
Key Points:
- Tenure and Transition:
- Somanathan, a 1987-batch IAS officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre, will replace the outgoing Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gauba.
- His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
- Somanathan will serve as Officer on Special Duty in the Cabinet Secretariat until he officially takes over as Cabinet Secretary.
- Role of the Cabinet Secretary:
- The Cabinet Secretary is the highest-ranking executive official and the senior-most civil servant in the Indian government.
- Directly reporting to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Secretary oversees the administration of the central government and facilitates smooth business transactions across various ministries.
- The office of the Cabinet Secretary is located just 200 meters away from the Prime Minister’s office.
- Somanathan’s Background:
- Before this appointment, Somanathan held several important posts in the Tamil Nadu government, including Joint Vigilance Commissioner, Executive Director Metrowater, and Secretary to the Chief Minister.
- He also worked as a financial economist in East Asia through the Young Professionals Program in 1996.
- Notably, Somanathan served as a director at the World Bank from 2011 to 2015.
- Academic Achievements:
- Somanathan holds a PhD in Economics and an MA in Economics from Calcutta University.
- He completed the Executive Development Program at Harvard Business School and is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary.
With this appointment, TV Somanathan steps into a crucial role, contributing to the efficient functioning of the Indian government and its decision-making processes. His wealth of experience and expertise will undoubtedly shape policy and governance during his tenure as Cabinet Secretary.
Advertisement
