New Delhi: In a major development within the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has cleared the empanelment of sixteen senior IRS (Customs & Indirect Taxes) officers for promotion to the prestigious Apex Scale—as Principal Chief Commissioners/Principal Director Generals of Customs and Indirect Taxes.
This high-level promotion marks a significant step in strengthening the leadership at the top of India’s indirect taxation system. The empanelment spans the Supplementary Panel for 2025, the Regular Panel for 2026, and also includes an Extended Panel to fill potential vacancies due to superannuation.
Officers Empanelled Under Supplementary Panel for 2025
- Mayank Kumar
- Madan Mohan Singh
- Shrawan Kumar
- L. Satya Sriniwas
- Arti A. Srinivas
- Charul Baranwal
These officers have been selected for their exemplary service and are now eligible to occupy one of the highest decision-making positions in the IRS (Customs & Indirect Taxes) cadre.
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Officers Empanelled for Regular Panel of 2026
- M. Subramaniam
- Sanjay Rathi
- Nitish Kumar Sinha
- Shailendra Kumar Sinha
- Abhai Kumar Srivastav
These officers will be eligible for appointment to the Apex Grade beginning in the calendar year 2026.
Officers Included in the Extended Panel (2026)
The Extended Panel has been approved to provide a pool of eligible officers in case of vacancies arising due to the retirement of those in the main or extended panels.
- S.K. Vimalanathan
- Vimal Kumar Srivastava
- Pranesh Pathak
- Rajendra Singh
These officers will be considered for promotion as replacements, ensuring leadership continuity within the Customs & Indirect Taxes apparatus.
Significance of the Move
The empanelment of these IRS officers to the Apex grade reinforces the government’s commitment to strengthening tax administration and enforcement. The move is also expected to bring more efficiency, leadership experience, and strategic depth to CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs) operations.
These officers will play a pivotal role in shaping customs and indirect tax policies, implementation of GST laws, trade facilitation, and anti-smuggling measures at the national level.
