The Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, has a new team of officers in his Ministry ahead of the Budget exercise scheduled to begin soon. The Economic Affairs Secretary, Mr Ashok Jha, has been appointed as the new Finance Secretary.

Mr Jha, who is a 1969 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, replaces Mr Adarsh Kishore, a 1969 batch officer from Rajasthan cadre, who is likely to go to the International Monetary Fund as its Executive Director.

Mr Kishore was also looking after expenditure department. The Government has appointed a new Expenditure Secretary, Mr Sanjiv Mishra, a 1972 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre. The Special Secretary (Banking), Mr Vinod Rai, a 1972 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, has been elevated as Secretary to look after the entire financial sector. However, there is no change in the revenue department, with Mr K.M. Chandrashekar continuing to head it.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has also approved appointment of the Parliamentary Affairs Secretary, Mr C.T. Misra, a 1972 batch IAS from Gujarat cadre, as Chairperson of Staff Selection Committee. Mr P.K. Mishra, a 1972 batch IAS officer of UP cadre, would be the new Parliamentary Affairs Secretary. Mr Naresh Dayal, a 1972 batch IAS officer from UP cadre, has been appointed as the new Health Secretary replacing Mr P.K. Hota, who demits office on Tuesday.