CBDT Gets Three New Members: ACC Clears Pallavi Agarwal, Sunil Kumar Singh and Vatsalaa Jha for Top Direct Tax Roles
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of senior IRS officers Pallavi Agarwal, Sunil Kumar Singh and Vatsalaa Jha as Members of the Central Board of Direct Taxes.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of three senior Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officers as Members of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), strengthening the leadership of the country’s highest policy-making body for direct tax administration.
The appointments, made on the recommendations of the competent selection committee, bring Pallavi Agarwal (1991 batch), Sunil Kumar Singh (1992 batch) and Vatsalaa Jha (1992 batch) into the six-member board that plays a pivotal role in shaping India’s direct tax policy, compliance framework and enforcement strategy.
Together, the three officers bring more than three decades of experience each across tax administration, international taxation, exemptions, investigations and financial enforcement, adding significant institutional expertise to the CBDT at a time when the Income Tax Department continues to expand its digital compliance ecosystem.
Among the newly appointed members, Vatsalaa Jha will have the longest remaining tenure, with retirement scheduled for August 2029, while Pallavi Agarwal and Sunil Kumar Singh are due to retire in December 2027.
Pallavi Agarwal Brings International Taxation and Exemptions Experience
One of the three appointments is Pallavi Agarwal, a 1991-batch IRS (Income Tax) officer currently serving as Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions), Delhi.
With a career spanning more than three decades, Agarwal has served in several important assignments within both the Income Tax Department and the Central government.
Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in English, and her administrative journey has combined field experience with policy-level responsibilities.
During her career, she also served on central deputation as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, giving her experience beyond the tax administration framework.
After returning to the Income Tax Department, she handled several senior positions in Delhi, including Chief Commissioner of Income Tax and Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (International Taxation).
Expertise in Exemptions and International Taxation
Agarwal’s professional experience has been particularly significant in the areas of international taxation, tax administration and institutional compliance.
Her tenure in the International Taxation division involved initiatives aimed at improving communication with taxpayers dealing with cross-border tax obligations and strengthening compliance mechanisms.
In her current role as Principal Chief Commissioner (Exemptions), she oversees an important segment of tax administration that deals with trusts, charitable institutions and other entities claiming income tax exemptions.
Her elevation to the CBDT brings valuable expertise in exemptions, regulatory oversight and international tax administration to the board responsible for framing national direct tax policy.
Sunil Kumar Singh Joins From the Investigation Wing
Another major appointment is Sunil Kumar Singh, a 1992-batch IRS (Income Tax) officer who currently serves as Director General of Income Tax (Investigation), Ahmedabad.
Singh has built his career around tax investigations, enforcement operations and financial intelligence, making him one of the department’s experienced officers in tackling suspected tax evasion and complex financial transactions.
His current assignment involves supervising investigation-related operations across Gujarat, including cases involving undisclosed income, financial irregularities and suspected tax evasion.
His transition to the CBDT brings substantial field-level enforcement experience into the board’s decision-making structure.
Investigation Experience to Strengthen CBDT
The Investigation Directorate plays a crucial role within the Income Tax Department by identifying cases involving hidden assets, suspected tax evasion and intricate financial arrangements.
Singh’s leadership in Ahmedabad has exposed him to regional investigation management and enforcement strategy, experience that is expected to contribute to the CBDT’s broader compliance and enforcement framework.
As the Income Tax Department increasingly relies on data analytics, digital intelligence and inter-agency coordination, officers with strong investigation backgrounds are becoming increasingly important in policy formulation.
Singh will remain in service until December 2027.
Vatsalaa Jha Gets the Longest Run at the CBDT
The third appointment is Vatsalaa Jha, another 1992-batch IRS (Income Tax) officer who currently serves as Director General of Income Tax (Investigation), North West Region, Chandigarh.
Her jurisdiction covers a strategically significant region that includes Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, giving her experience across diverse administrative and taxation environments.
Among the three newly appointed CBDT members, Jha has the longest remaining service tenure, with retirement scheduled for August 2029, providing the board with continuity over the coming years.
A Career Built Across Administration and Investigation
Jha holds a Bachelor of Science degree and has spent more than three decades serving under the Ministry of Finance.
Before taking charge of the North West Investigation Region, she served in several senior assignments, including Principal Commissioner of Income Tax (Pr. CIT-19), Mumbai, as well as a Director in the Ministry of Finance.
Her career reflects experience across tax administration, investigations, compliance and policy-related functions.
Over the years, she has also been associated with efforts aimed at improving taxpayer facilitation while strengthening compliance and expanding the tax base alongside enforcement against tax evasion.
Why the CBDT Matters
The Central Board of Direct Taxes is the apex statutory authority responsible for administering direct taxes in India.
Functioning under the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance, the board plays a central role in formulating income tax policies, supervising implementation, improving taxpayer services and overseeing enforcement across the Income Tax Department.
CBDT members are entrusted with different functional responsibilities ranging from investigations and administration to taxpayer services, systems and policy formulation.
The appointment of officers with expertise across investigations, exemptions and international taxation therefore adds important institutional capacity to the board.
Three Officers, Three Different Strengths
The latest appointments bring together complementary expertise from different parts of the Income Tax Department.
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Pallavi Agarwal contributes deep experience in exemptions and international taxation.
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Sunil Kumar Singh strengthens the board with extensive investigation and enforcement experience.
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Vatsalaa Jha adds long-term administrative continuity alongside investigation and policy expertise.
Together, the three appointments reinforce the CBDT’s leadership at a time when India’s direct tax administration continues to evolve through digital governance, data-driven compliance and strengthened enforcement mechanisms.
A Leadership Boost for India’s Direct Tax Administration
With the ACC clearing the appointments of Pallavi Agarwal, Sunil Kumar Singh and Vatsalaa Jha, the CBDT gains three seasoned officers whose careers collectively span investigations, international taxation, exemptions, taxpayer administration and financial enforcement.
The appointments are expected to strengthen policy formulation as well as operational oversight within the Income Tax Department, reinforcing the board’s role as the country’s highest decision-making body for direct tax administration.
