New Delhi: Ahead of beginning of work on the Budget for 2016-17, government today designated Ratan P Watal as new Finance Secretary even as a new team of officials took charge at the finance ministry. Shaktikanta Das, 58, took charge as the Secretary for Department of Economic Affairs after Rajiv Mehrishi on his last day in office was appointed Home Secretary for a two-year tenure. Das, who was Revenue Secretary, held discussions at length with his successor Hasmukh Adhia. Adha, who headed the Department of Financial Services, passed on the baton to Anjuly Chib Duggal.
Traditionally, the seniormost bureaucrat in the Finance Ministry is named Finance Secretary. Watal, 59, is a 1978-batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS officer while Das belongs to 1980 batch from Tamil Nadu cadre. Das is an old economic affairs hand, having worked as joint secretary in-charge of budget. He also served as additional secretary in the DEA before moving as fertiliser secretary.
