Panjab University alumnus Somanathan new Cabinet Secretary

Aditi Tandon/Animesh Singh

Tribune News Service

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 Rajiv Gauba exits after a five-year stint, which will make Guaba the longest-serving Cabinet Secretary.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today approved the appointment of Somanathan, a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, as Gauba’s successor.

The ACC said Somanathan would take charge on August 30 and would have a two-year tenure. Until August 30, Somanathan, an alumnus of Panjab University, Chandigarh, has been appointed Officer on Special Duty in the Cabinet Secretariat.

Formerly Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in the PMO (2015 to 2017), Somanathan served as Director at the World Bank (2011 to 2015) on deputation from the IAS. He holds a PhD in economics from Calcutta University, an executive development programme diploma from Harvard Business School and MA and BCom 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 the CM, 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.

Outgoing Cabinet Secretary and chief architect of the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, 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, grant service extension to officers holding the positions of Cabinet Secretary, Defence Secretary, Home Secretary, Intelligence Bureau Director, Secretary, R&AW, and Director, CBI, for such period as it deems proper.

A new Home Secretary is also due for appointment as the term of AK Bhalla, Union Home Secretary, ends on August 22, 2024.