On September 7, the central government appointed Tuhin Kanta Pandey, a 1987-batch IAS officer, as the new Finance Secretary. This appointment follows the naming of Mr. Somanathan as the Cabinet Secretary. Pandey, who hails from the Odisha cadre, has had a distinguished career with significant roles in both state and central governments.
Career Highlights:
- Previous Roles: Before his new role, Pandey served as the Secretary of the Departments of Public Enterprises (DPE) and Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) under the Ministry of Finance. His tenure included overseeing major disinvestment programs, including the landmark sale of Air India.
- Educational Background: Pandey holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Panjab University, Chandigarh, and an MBA from the United Kingdom.
- Early Career: His early career saw him in pivotal roles such as Executive Director and Managing Director of the Odisha State Financial Corporation and the Odisha Small Industries Corporation Ltd. He also served as District Collector and District Magistrate of Sambalpur.
- Government Service: Pandey’s extensive service includes roles as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Special Secretary in the General Administration Department, Transport Commissioner, Health Secretary, and Commissioner of Commercial Taxes. In 2009, he was appointed as a Joint Secretary in the Planning Commission.
- UNIDO Posting: He had a stint with the Regional Office of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) before returning to India to continue his service in various capacities.
- Finance Ministry: In his recent role as Secretary of DIPAM, Pandey played a crucial role in managing disinvestment strategies and asset management. He also briefly held the additional charge as Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2021.
Tuhin Kanta Pandey’s appointment as Finance Secretary marks the continuation of his long-standing involvement with financial management and government administration, reflecting his extensive experience and expertise in these areas.
