TV Somanathan Appointed New Cabinet Secretary; 1987-Batch IAS Officer Takes Top Role

The central government has appointed senior IAS officer TV Somanathan as the new Cabinet Secretary. Somanathan, who is currently serving as the Finance Secretary, will take over from Rajiv Gauba, with a tenure starting on August 30, 2024.

Official Announcement and Transition Details

TV Somanathan to be the next Cabinet Secretary.

Somanathan is Tamil Nadu cadre 1987 batch IAS officer. pic.twitter.com/xh1JjjU8On

— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) August 10, 2024

An official statement from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet confirmed the appointment, stating, “The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of TV Somanathan, IAS, as Cabinet Secretary with a tenure of two years from 30.08.2024.” Before assuming his new role, Somanathan will serve as Officer on Special Duty in the Cabinet Secretariat.

Role of the Cabinet Secretary

As the highest-ranking executive official and the senior-most civil servant in the country, the Cabinet Secretary operates directly under the Prime Minister. This role involves overseeing the administration of the central government and ensuring the smooth functioning of business across various ministries.

Rajiv Gauba, the outgoing Cabinet Secretary, has served in the position since August 30, 2019, completing a five-year tenure.

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Who Is TV Somanathan?

TV Somanathan is a 1987-batch IAS officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre who ranked second in his Civil Services examination and was awarded the Gold Medal for being the Best IAS Probationer of his batch.

Somanathan has an extensive career, having served as an Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, as well as a Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. His international experience includes a stint as a Director at the World Bank.

In Tamil Nadu, his roles included Deputy Secretary of Budget, Joint Vigilance Commissioner, Executive Director of Metrowater, Secretary to the Chief Minister, Additional Chief Secretary, and Commissioner of Commercial Taxes.

Academic Background and Qualifications

Somanathan holds a PhD in Economics and an MA in Economics from Calcutta University. Additionally, he completed the Executive Development Program at Harvard Business School and is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary.

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