Who is Tuhin Kanta Pandey, the IAS officer appointed as India’s New Finance Secretary?

Tuhin Kanta Pandey, a senior IAS Officer from the Orissa cadre 1987 batch, has been appointed as the new Finance Secretary of India. The announcement came nearly a month after the appointment of current Cabinet Secretary T.V Somanathan by the top appointment panel. Mr. Pandey was serving as the secretary of pivotal sectors such as the Departments of Public Enterprises (DPE), and Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) prior to his appointment to the incumbent role.Pandey is the longest-serving Secretary in charge of DIPAM. The vacancy arose after Somanathan was designated as the Cabinet Secretary, succeeding Rajiv Gauba, a retired civil servant. Alongside this appointment, several other high-level changes were implemented, which paved the way for Pandey’s new role. According to the convention, the senior-most secretary in the Union Finance Ministry is appointed as Finance Secretary.

Tuhin Kanta: Educational Qualification

Pandey has a remarkable educational background. Apart from an MA Economics from Panjab University, Chandigarh, he has earned an MBA degree from the United Kingdom.

Tuhin Kanta’s Career Trajectory

Pandey has held several significant administrative positions in various departments of the Odisha government and the Government of India. The Odisha-cadre IAS officer is recognized for his momentous achievements such as successfully finalizing the long-awaited sale of Air India and supervising the public listing of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). Here is a look at his illustrious career.
Previously, he held the roles of District Collector and District Magistrate in Sambalpur district before serving as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. He was later transferred to the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Regional Office. Following his return, he held various positions, including Special Secretary in the General Administration Department, Transport Commissioner, Health Secretary, and Commissioner of Commercial Taxes. In 2009, Pandey was appointed as Joint Secretary in the Planning Commission for five years.
Before becoming Finance Secretary, Pandey served five years at DIPAM, overseeing major disinvestment programs, including the notable sale of Air India. In 2021, he briefly took on additional responsibilities as Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Throughout his career, Pandey has played a key role in managing the Odisha government’s financial affairs and has been closely associated with the Finance Ministry for many years.

Tuhin Kanta’s Responsibilities as a Finance Secretary

The Finance Secretary holds various crucial responsibilities. He serves as the administrative leader of the Ministry of Finance and acts as the principal adviser to the Finance Minister on policy and administrative issues within the ministry. The core responsibilities also comprise representing the ministry before the Public Accounts Committee of the Indian Parliament.