Ravi Agrawal Reappointed as CBDT Chairman for Six Months
Ravi Agrawal's Reappointment as CBDT Chairman
File image of CBDT Chairman Ravi Agrawal(Photo: IANS)
New Delhi, June 30: On Tuesday, the government confirmed the reappointment of Ravi Agrawal as the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) for an additional six months on a contractual basis.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) sanctioned Agrawal's new term, which will commence on July 1 and extend until December 31, 2026, or until further notice, whichever comes first.
This decision by the ACC ensures that Agrawal continues to lead the primary body overseeing direct taxes, thereby maintaining stability within the CBDT's operations.
The official order indicated that this reappointment follows the standard terms and conditions for re-employed central government officials and is made with a relaxation of the recruitment guidelines.
“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the re-appointment of Ravi Agrawal as Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), on a contract basis, for a period of six months effective from July 1 until December 31, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, under the usual terms applicable to re-employed Central Government officers, in relaxation of the Recruitment Rules,” the order detailed.
Agrawal, who belongs to the 1988 batch of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) from the Income Tax cadre, took over as CBDT Chairman in June 2024, succeeding Nitin Gupta.
Prior to his current role, he served as Member (Administration) in the CBDT starting July 2023 and was later reappointed for a one-year term from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
The CBDT, which is the highest policymaking entity of the Income Tax Department under the Department of Revenue, is led by a chairman and can include up to six members at the level of Special Secretary to the Government of India.
This body is tasked with the administration of direct tax laws, the formulation of tax policies, enhancing compliance, and improving services for taxpayers.
Agrawal's reappointment comes at a time when direct tax collections have shown significant growth.
As reported by the Income Tax Department, net direct tax collections increased by 14.64 percent year-on-year, reaching Rs 5.21 lakh crore during the period from April 1 to June 17 of the current fiscal year.