In a key reshuffle within the Finance Ministry, senior IAS officer Arunish Chawla has been transferred from his role as Revenue Secretary to lead the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM). This change comes just three weeks before the presentation of the Union Budget on February 1. Tuhin Kanta Pandey, currently the DIPAM secretary and finance secretary, will replace Chawla as the new revenue secretary, according to an order from the personnel ministry.

The reshuffle comes as the Finance Ministry intensifies its preparations for the upcoming Union Budget. The move is being viewed as a strategic adjustment to strengthen leadership during this critical financial period.

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Chawla, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre, was appointed revenue secretary on December 25 last year, after serving as Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals. Pandey, on the other hand, is a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre, who had been serving as DIPAM secretary while also holding additional charge as Secretary of the Department of Public Enterprises.

Chawla, will also hold additional charge of Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, a charge which was also with Pandey earlier. Also, Chawla will continue to be Secretary, Ministry of Culture, till the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders, whichever is earlier, the order said.

Before his appointment as Revenue Secretary on December 25, 2024, Chawla was Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers since November 1, 2023.