New Delhi: The race for the lone vacant Board-level post in the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has entered a crucial phase, with nine senior officers of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS – Customs and Indirect Taxes) now in contention.
The Department of Revenue had invited applications from ten eligible officers. With the application window closing on May 13, only nine officers are understood to have submitted their candidature, while one senior officer opted out of the process.
The selected officer will fill the remaining vacancy on the CBIC Board and restore it to its full sanctioned strength.
9 Senior IRS Officers in the Race
The officers in contention include:
- Raj Kumar
- V. Valte
- Prachi Saroop
- Rimjhim Prasad
- Rajesh Jindal
- Mayank Kumar
- Arti A. Sriniwas
- Shailendra Kumar Sinha
- Diptasri Barma Arora
Among them, Raj Kumar is the senior-most officer, while Diptasri Barma Arora recently became eligible for consideration.
Madan Mohan Singh Reportedly Did Not Apply
According to sources, Madan Mohan Singh, who had also opted out during the previous selection round, did not submit his application by the May 13 deadline.
Five Officers Likely to Be Shortlisted
As per the established selection process, only five candidates are expected to be shortlisted and invited for an interaction before the Committee of Secretaries (CoS), which will recommend a panel for final consideration by the government.
Background: One Vacancy Left Unfilled in February
Between late December 2025 and January 2026, the Committee of Secretaries interviewed 15 officers to fill three vacancies that arose following the retirement of:
- Sanjay Kumar Agrawal
- Shashank Priya
- Aruna Narayan Gupta
On February 13, 2026, the government appointed:
- Sanjay Mangal
- Abhai Kumar Srivastav
However, the third vacancy, which had technically arisen on December 1, 2025, remained unfilled and has now been carried forward.
Final Selection Expected Soon
With applications now closed, the Department of Revenue is expected to initiate the shortlisting process shortly.
The appointment will be significant, as the incoming Member will join the apex indirect tax policymaking body at a time when customs administration, GST implementation and trade facilitation remain key priorities for the government.
Read Also: CBIC Transfers 33 Senior IRS Officers in Major Reshuffle; Valte Vungzamuan Posted to Delhi Customs
