Panjab University alumnus TV Somanathan is new Cabinet Secretary
Aditi Tandon
New Delhi, August 10
Union Finance And Expenditure Secretary TV Somanathan was on Saturday appointed the next Cabinet Secretary.
He will take charge on August 30 after incumbent Rajeev Gauba exits after a five-year stint which made Guaba the longest-serving Cabinet Secretary in the country.
The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday approved the appointment of Panjab University, Chandigarh, alumnus Somanathan, a 1987-batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, as Gauba's successor.
The ACC said Somanathan will take charge from August 30 and will have a two year tenure.
Until August 30, Somanathan has been appointed Officer on Special Duty in the Cabinet Secretariat, the ACC orders said.
Formerly Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary (2015 to 2017) in the PMO, Somanathan served as Director at the World Bank (2011 to 2015) on deputation from the IAS.
He holds a Ph.D in Economics from Calcutta University, an Executive Development Programme diploma from Harvard Business School, and Master of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce degrees from Panjab University, Chandigarh.
A recipient of multiple academic awards, Somanathan joined the IAS in 1987 and had all-India Rank 2.
He bagged a gold medal for being the best IAS probationer of his batch.
Prior to his role as Finance and Expenditure Secretary, Somanathan served in a variety of senior positions in the Government of Tamil Nadu, including Deputy Secretary (Budget), Joint Vigilance Commissioner, Executive Director Metrowater, Secretary to Chief Minister, and Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Commercial Taxes.
As founder MD of Chennai Metro Rail Limited, he was responsible for achieving financial closure and awarding the initial tenders for implementing the Rs 14,600 crore Chennai Metro Rail Project.
Rajeev Guaba was last year granted a third extension in the top bureaucratic post.
By the time his stint ends on August 30, Gauba would have served five years making him the longest-serving Cabinet Secretary. The second Cabinet Secretary of independent India YN Sukthankar held the post for four years and 78 days. Gauba's predecessor PK Sinha served as Cabinet Secretary for four years and 79 days.
All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules-1958 say the Centre may, if it deems necessary in public interest to do so, grant extension in service to incumbents of the posts of Cabinet Secretary, Defence Secretary, Home Secretary, Intelligence Bureau Director, Secretary, R&AW, Director, CBI for such period as it deems proper.
Union Home Secretary AK Bhalla, the second top bureaucratic post in India, had also got a fourth extension of tenure in August 2023. His term ends on August 24, 2024.
