Arvind Shrivastava takes charge as revenue secretary

Arvind Shrivastava on Thursday took charge as the secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on April 18, 2025, appointed Shrivastava as the revenue secretary.

Previously, Shrivastava, a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Karnataka cadre, served as Joint Secretary and then Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office. Before that, Shrivastava has also served as Joint Secretary, in the Budget Division of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance; Development Officer in the Asian Development Bank; Secretary, Finance Dept., Bengaluru; Secretary, Urban Development Department, Bengaluru; Managing Director in the Urban Infrastructure Development & Finance Corporation, Karnataka.

Shrivastava’s appointment as revenue secretary comes weeks after former revenue secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey was appointed as the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for a period of three years. Pandey succeeded Madhabi Puri Buch, who was the Sebi chairperson since 2022. In appointing Pandey, the government went back to appointing an IAS officer for the post. Buch, a former ICICI Bank official, was the first person from the private sector to hold the post.

Shrivastava’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment, as India’s tax system adapts to significant policy changes and global economic challenges. A key task ahead of him will be to secure strong tax revenue collection amid ongoing international trade disputes, especially the reciprocal tariff threats from the United States. In this environment, he will be expected to guide India’s customs strategy with foresight. Shrivastava is also expected to assist the GST Council in advancing efforts for further rate adjustments, reduce revenue leakages, and lead the next stage of reforms.