Rajiv Menrishi, Rajasthan chief secretary was appointed as the new economic affairs secretary by the Narendra Modi government to gear up for the February 2015 budget session. He has succeeded from Arvind Mayaram, who had twin roles both in finance and chief economic affairs. Arvind Mayaram has been shifted to a low profile tourism ministry.
Rajiv has been promoted as for the past six months Rajasthan state has witnessed India’s most innovative reforms like free-market labour, land and welfare reform. The major shuffling by Modi government is to start the groundwork for the 2015-16 budget session, as the world’s eye are on India’s potential performance with respect growth, ease of trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) into the potential developing nation.
The Finance Ministry has four secretaries – Economic Affairs, Expenditure, Revenue and Financial Services. The senior most among the four is designated Finance Secretary. These Secretaries in the finance ministry formulate and carry out policies, besides helping to draft the annual budget along with the minister and advisers.
At present, Ratan P Watal, a 1978 batch IAS officer from Andhra Pradesh is Expenditure Secretary while 1980-batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre Gurdial Singh Sandhu is the Financial Services Secretary. Shaktikanta Das, an IAS officer of 1980 batch from Tamil Nadu cadre, is Revenue Secretary.
Source – Economic Times
