Budget 2025: Days ahead of the Union Budget 2025, a major reshuffle was announced in the finance ministry. In a notification on Wednesday, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet announced that Finance Secretary Arunish Chawla would be transferred to the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), while DIPAM Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey would be the new Secretary of the Treasury.

The notification said that Tuhin Kanta Pandey will continue to serve as Finance Secretary.

Meanwhile, Arunish Chawla will also hold additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises in the Ministry of Finance and Secretary, Ministry of Culture until a regular incumbent is appointed or until further notice, whichever is earlier.

Chawla was appointed Finance Secretary in the Ministry of Finance on December 25 last year, while serving as Secretary in the Department of Pharmacy in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. Even then he continued to hold the position of the Ministry of Culture. The post of Finance Secretary fell vacant after Sanjay Malhotra was appointed Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Pandey, a 1987 batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre, was also holding the additional charge of the post of secretary in the Department of Public Enterprises.

The changes come days before the presentation of the Union Budget on February 1. This reshuffle has been seen as the government’s strategic adjustment as it prepares for the crucial financial planning period ahead.