Arvind Shrivastava takes charge as revenue secretary amid policy challenges

Prior to this, Shrivastava served in the Prime Minister's Office as joint secretary and later as additional secretary

Arvind Shrivastava, a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer of the Karnataka cadre, took charge as secretary, department of revenue, Union Ministry of Finance on Thursday. Shrivastava was appointed to the post by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on April 18.

 

Before this, he served in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) as joint secretary and later as additional secretary. He has also held key positions in the Ministry of Finance, including joint secretary in the Budget division under the department of economic affairs (DEA).

 

His earlier roles include stints as development officer at the Asian Development Bank, secretary of finance and urban development in the Karnataka government, and managing director of the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation.

 

His appointment comes at a crucial juncture when India’s tax administration is navigating significant policy transitions and global economic headwinds. One of Shrivastava’s immediate challenges will be ensuring robust tax revenue mobilisation in the face of global trade tensions, particularly the reciprocal tariff threats by the US. 

 

In this context, Shrivastava will be required to strategically steer India’s customs policy. Key sectors such as automobiles, electronics, and pharmaceuticals could face pricing pressures due to both foreign tariffs and input cost dynamics.

   

Shrivastava will also play a central role in the implementation of the new Income Tax Bill, 2025, which proposes a simplified tax structure aimed at reducing litigation, improving compliance, and eliminating ambiguous clauses in the current law. 

 

Set to take effect from April 1, 2026, the Bill introduces a new “tax year” concept and consolidates tax deducted at source (TDS) provisions into a single schedule. His leadership will be critical in guiding the transition, and ensuring that taxpayers are adequately prepared for the new compliance regime.

   

Shrivastava will also need to support the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s push for further rate rationalisation, plug leakages, and promote the next wave of reforms — including integrating petroleum products and real estate under GST in the long term. Additionally, simplifying GST compliance for small businesses and ensuring timely settlement of integrated GST dues will be on his radar.

   

In addition, Shrivastava is also expected to accelerate digital transformation across both direct and indirect tax systems. Meanwhile, his PMO background may bring greater coordination across enforcement agencies under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (Fema), Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and the Income Tax Act.

 

Meanwhile, Manipur-cadre IAS officer Vumlunmang Vualnam took over as expenditure secretary last week. K Moses Chalai, another Manipur cadre IAS officer of 1990 batch has taken over as the secretary at the department of public enterprises. 

 

Further, 1994-batch Himachal Pradesh-cadre IAS officer Anuradha Thakur has taken charge as officer on special duty at the DEA, shifting from her erstwhile role of additional secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Shukla will take over the role of  DEA secretary upon superannuation of present DEA secretary Ajay Seth on June 30.