Vivek Chaturvedi takes charge as new CBIC chairman

Vivek Chaturvedi has been approved as the new Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. This appointment was announced via the official CBIC X account.

A 1990-batch Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) officer, Chaturvedi’s appointment formally came into effect on December 1, following the superannuation of his predecessor, Sanjay Kumar Agarwal.

According to the media reports, the leadership transition was cleared by the government on Friday, marking a shift in the administration of India's indirect tax regime.

Chaturvedi brings with him over three decades of extensive experience in customs administration, intelligence gathering, data analytics, and vigilance. Prior to his elevation as Chairman, he served as a Member (Tax Policy & Legal) on the CBIC board, where he was already deeply involved in high-level policy formulation.

His track record includes critical tenures in oversight and modernisation roles. Previously, he served as the Principal Director General in the Directorate General of Vigilance and as the board's Chief Vigilance Officer, where he was tasked with strengthening internal integrity processes.

Before that, as Director General at the Directorate General of Analytics and Risk Management (DGARM), he played a pivotal role in leveraging data to curb tax evasion, a focus area that is expected to continue under his chairmanship.

Chaturvedi assumes charge at a juncture for the Finance Ministry. As the new Chairman, he will be a key figure in the formulation of the Union Budget for 2026-27, specifically regarding indirect taxes.

His tenure begins amidst the government's push to maintain revenue buoyancy following the GST rate rationalisations announced in September, media reports added.