Modi govt rejigs bureaucrats; Mayaram shifted to tourism, Subramanian becomes new CEA

The Finance Ministry has got a new team with Finance and Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram being shunted to low-profile Tourism Ministry and US-based economist Arvind Subramanian appointed as chief economic adviser (CEA) as groundwork for preparation for the new government's first full-fledged Budget is under way.

Mayaram, 59, was replaced by Rajasthan Chief Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who was his 1978 batchmate in the state cadre and is an alumnus of St Stephen's College. The outgoing Finance Secretary will replace Parvez Dewan on his retirement as tourism secretary at month-end.

Mayaram's transfer was part of the first major shuffle of top bureaucrats since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in May. In all, 20 bureaucrats were moved-many at the level of secretary, the senior-most rank in a ministry. Modi clearly wants his own team to draw up the next Budget, which will embody the new thrust on economic reforms.

Oxford-educated Subramanian, who was an economist with the International Monetary Fund like his predecessor and current Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan, is an alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad and St Stephen's College. Subramanian, appointed for three years beginning Thursday, will get the rank and pay of a secretary to government of India.

In other bureaucratic changes, Anil Swarup, a 1981 batch IAS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as coal secretary. His batchmate Anuj Kumar Bishnoi has been appointed as secretary, ministry of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation. Alok Rawat, a 1977 batch IAS officer, has been appointed secretary in the department of administrative reforms and public grievances.

ONE BATCHMATE REPLACES ANOTHER

>> Finance secretary and economic affairs secretary Arvind Mayaram shifted to low-profile tourism ministry

>> Mayaram replaced by his 1978 Rajasthan cadre batchmate and Rajasthan chief secretary Rajiv Mehrishi

>> Mayaram will replace Parvez Dewan on his retirement as tourism secretary at month-end

>> Mayaram was the senior-most among the four secretaries in the finance ministry

>> Mayaram's transfer was part of the first major secretary-level reshuffle undertaken by the Modi government

CEA'S POST FILLED AFTER 1 YR

>> US-based economist Arvind Subramanian is the new as chief economic adviser

>> Subramanian was an economist with the International Monetary Fund like his predecessor and present RBI governor Raghuram Rajan

>> Subramanian is an alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad and St Stephen's College, Delhi

>> The post of chief economic adviser got vacant after Rajan was appointed RBI governor more than a year ago