New Delhi: The Government of India has appointed Ajay Seth, a 1987 batch IAS officer from the Karnataka cadre, as the new Finance Secretary. The announcement was made through an official order issued by the Ministry of Personnel on Monday.
Seth, who is currently serving as the Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, has been designated as the senior-most secretary in the Union Finance Ministry, following the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet’s approval.
With over three decades of experience in public finance and administration, Seth has played a pivotal role in areas such as budgeting, tax policy, foreign investments, and development financing. A B.Tech graduate from IIT Roorkee and an MBA holder from Ateneo de Manila University, he took over as the Economic Affairs Secretary in April 2021.
Earlier this month, Seth was also given the additional charge of Revenue Secretary. His previous contributions include streamlining Karnataka’s commercial tax administration, for which he was honored with the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2013.
The position of Finance Secretary fell vacant following the appointment of Tuhin Kanta Pandey as the Chairman of SEBI. During his tenure, Pandey played a crucial role in framing the Union Budget and implementing significant reforms, including income tax exemptions for individuals earning up to ₹12 lakh per year to boost demand and economic growth.
