Sushma Nath likely to be the new finance secretary

Expenditure secretary Sushma Nath is likely to be the country’s first woman finance secretary, according to government officials.

Finance secretary Ashok Chawla, who is also the economic affairs secretary, is retiring on January 31. Being the senior most official in the finance ministry, Nath is tipped to be the new finance secretary. Nath, a 1974-batch Madhya Pradesh cadre Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer, is due to retire on March 31.

Financial services secretary R Gopalan is likely to replace Chawla as the economic affairs secretary. Officials said Gopalan, a 1976-batch Tamil Nadu cadre officer, may continue to hold the charge of Department of Financial Services until further orders. Gopalan may become finance secretary when Nath retires, as traditionally, the post has been held by economic affairs secretary.

Chawla, the 1973-batch Gujarat cadre officer, took charge as finance secretary in May 2009 and economic affairs secretary in September 2008.