TV Somanathan appointed as Cabinet Secretary

The Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet on Saturday appointed 1987-batch IAS officer TV Somanathan as the Cabinet Secretary of India. He is set to replace Rajiv Gauba who was given a one-year extension last year and is the country's longest-serving Cabinet Secretary.

Somanathan, who is currently the Finance Secretary of India will remain in office for a tenure of two years, starting August 30. He will discharge the duty of Officer on Special Duty in the Cabinet Secretariat from the date he joins the assignment till he takes over as the Cabinet Secretary.

He was previously Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs (2010-11), and Joint Secretary/ Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister from 2015 to 2017.


He has earlier worked in a variety of senior positions in the Government of Tamil Nadu state, including Deputy Secretary (Budget), Joint Vigilance Commissioner, Executive Director Metrowater, Secretary to Chief Minister, and Additional Chief Secretary & Commissioner of Commercial Taxes.

As founder MD of CMRL, he was responsible for achieving financial closure and awarding the initial tenders for implementing the Rs.14,600 crore Chennai Metro Rail Project.

In 1996 he joined the World Bank, Washington through the Young Professionals Program, as Financial Economist in the East Asia & Pacific Regional Vice Presidency. In 2000, he became one of the Bank’s youngest Sector Managers when he was appointed Manager of the Budget Policy Group.

In 2011 his services were sought by the World Bank and he served as Director from 2011 to 2015.