Ratan Watal is new finance secretary

Ahead of starting work on the Budget for 2016-17, the government on Monday designated Ratan P Watal (bottom, left)  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.

"Yes, they have taken charge," a ministry official said when asked if Das and Adhia have taken charge.

Adhia, who headed the department of financial services, passed on the baton to Anjuly Chib Duggal.

A government statement said, "The prime minister has approved the designation of R P Watal, the senior-most secretary in the ministry of finance, as finance secretary."

Traditionally, the senior-most 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 the 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. In June last year, he was brought back to finance ministry after Rajiv Takru was shunted out.

Duggal, 58, a Punjab cadre IAS officer of 1981 batch, had previously served as special secretary in the department of expenditure before being appointed corporate affairs secretary in December last year.

Adhia is a 1981 batch IAS officer from Gujarat.

The finance ministry is slated to start consultations on 2016-17 Budget with different ministries and government departments from September 4.

Beginning with commerce, textile and external affairs ministries on September 4, the consultations with different government departments would conclude on September 28.

The consultations would focus on expenditure proposals for 2016-17 and revised estimates for 2015-16.

Later, consultations with several interest groups like industry, trader bodies and trade unions will be held.

The Union Budget is traditionally presented on the last working day of February.