NEW DELHI: Senior Indian Revenue Service officer Shailendra Kumar Sinha (IRS&IT:1991) has been promoted to the grade of Principal Chief Commissioner/Principal Director General of Customs and Indirect Taxes, marking his elevation to the apex level of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
According to an Office Order issued by the Department of Revenue on October 5, 2026, the President has approved his promotion against the 2026 panel year in Level 17 of the Pay Matrix (Apex Scale).
The promotion will take effect from the date he assumes charge of the promotional post and will continue until further orders.
Sinha is currently serving as Director General, Directorate General of Taxpayer Services (DGTS), New Delhi. His regular posting in the Principal Chief Commissioner/Principal Director General grade will be decided separately with the approval of the competent authority.
Until a regular posting is issued, he will assume charge of the promotional post on an in-situ, or “as is where is,” basis.
Who Is Shailendra Kumar Sinha?
Dr Sinha is a senior 1991-batch IRS officer of the Customs and Indirect Taxes cadre.
With more than three decades of service, he has held several important positions within the indirect tax administration and has risen through the ranks from Commissioner to Principal Commissioner, Chief Commissioner and now Principal Chief Commissioner grade.
He is an officer of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and is currently posted as Director General of Taxpayer Services in New Delhi.
His elevation to Level 17 places him in the apex scale of the Central government’s pay structure applicable to the Principal Chief Commissioner/Principal Director General grade.
Early Career and Commissioner-Level Promotion
Mr Sinha is a Direct Recruit (DR) officer of the 1991 IRS batch.
He was empanelled and subsequently promoted to the grade of Commissioner of Customs and Indirect Taxes against the 2013-14 panel year.
The Commissioner-level position marked an important stage in his career within CBIC, following which he went on to hold increasingly senior responsibilities in the indirect tax administration.
His service has included assignments involving customs, central indirect taxes and the broader administrative responsibilities of the CBIC.
Promoted to Principal Commissioner in 2024
In April 2024, Sinha was promoted to the grade of Principal Commissioner of Customs and Indirect Taxes against the 2020 panel year.
The promotion placed him among the senior-most officers handling important responsibilities within the country’s indirect tax administration.
He subsequently moved into the Chief Commissioner grade later that year.
Chief Commissioner of Customs and Indirect Taxes
In October 2024, Sinha was promoted to the grade of Chief Commissioner of Customs and Indirect Taxes.
The promotion was effective notionally from July 1, 2024.
Following his elevation, he was posted as Chief Commissioner, CGST & Customs, Guwahati Zone, covering the North-East region.
In this role, he was responsible for overseeing indirect tax administration across the North-Eastern states.
His tenure in the region also involved initiatives related to capacity building and professional training. He was associated with programmes and workshops conducted by the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics (NACIN).
Current Role as DG Taxpayer Services
Before his latest promotion, Sinha was serving as Director General, Directorate General of Taxpayer Services (DGTS), New Delhi.
The DGTS is responsible for strengthening taxpayer-facing services and facilitating taxpayer awareness and assistance within the indirect tax system.
His experience across field formations and senior-level CBIC assignments has included both operational and administrative responsibilities.
Promotion to Principal Chief Commissioner Grade
Dr Sinha’s latest promotion marks the next major step in his career.
Under the Department of Revenue’s October 5 order, he has been promoted against the 2026 panel year to the grade of Principal Chief Commissioner/Principal Director General of Customs and Indirect Taxes.
The post carries Level 17 of the Pay Matrix, the Apex Scale.
The order specifies that his regular posting will be issued separately after approval by the competent authority.
Until then, he will take charge of the promotional post in situ, meaning that the promotion will take effect without an immediate change in his existing place of posting.
Career Across CBIC
Over his career spanning more than 35 years in public service, Sinha has progressed through several levels of the Customs and Indirect Taxes administration.
His career progression includes:
- 1991: Joined the Indian Revenue Service, Customs & Indirect Taxes cadre.
- 2013-14 panel: Empanelled/promoted to Commissioner grade.
- 2024: Promoted to Principal Commissioner grade against the 2020 panel.
- July 1, 2024: Chief Commissioner promotion effective notionally from this date.
- October 2024: Posted as Chief Commissioner, CGST & Customs, Guwahati Zone.
- 2026: Serving as Director General, Directorate General of Taxpayer Services, New Delhi.
- October 2026: Promoted to Principal Chief Commissioner/Principal Director General grade at Level 17.
Key Details
- Name: Dr Shailendra Kumar Sinha
- Service: Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes)
- Batch: 1991
- Cadre/Organisation: CBIC
- Employee ID: 698
- Date of Birth: September 21, 1966
- Current Posting: Director General, Directorate General of Taxpayer Services, New Delhi
- New Grade: Principal Chief Commissioner/Principal Director General of Customs & Indirect Taxes
- Pay Level: Level 17, Apex Scale
- Panel Year: 2026
Mr Sinha’s elevation to the Principal Chief Commissioner grade places the veteran IRS officer among the senior-most officers of the Customs and Indirect Taxes administration and marks another significant milestone in his long career with CBIC.
