What you need to know about AN Jha, the new finance secretary appointed by the Narendra Modi government, who will succeed Hasmukh Adhia, a 1981-batch Gujarat cadre IAS officer, on November 30
The Modi government has appointed AN Jha as the new finance secretary after the retirement on November 30 of Hasmukh Adhia, a 1981-batch Gujarat cadre IAS officer.
Jha, who was secretary, expenditure, was appointed as the new finance secretary by a government order on Monday. PM Narendra Modi-led Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has cleared his appointment.
Here are six things to know about Jha:
1. Born January 15, 1959, he is a 1982-batch IAS officer from the Manipur cadre. He has been one of the most influential officers in the finance ministry and is believed to enjoy the trust of the Prime Minister’s Office.
2. Jha has done BA and MA in history from St Stephen’s College, University of Delhi. He has also reportedly got his postgraduate degree in executive development from the John F Kennedy School of Government at the Harvard University. He is well-versed in French.
3. Jha has served in crucial posts for the government of India. He was the principal secretary (finance), principal secretary (environment and forests). He was also joint secretary and financial adviser in the department of higher education of the ministry of HRD, and as joint secretary and financial adviser in law ministry.
4. In the Manipur government, he was chairman of the Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency and principal secretary to the Manipur CM, secretary to the Manipur governor, and the deputy commissioner and magistrate of Ukhrul and Churachandpur districts.
5. Jha also served as consultant to United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).
6. Interestingly, in 2006, almost his namesake, AK Jha, was appointed finance secretary by then finance minister P Chidambaram.
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