ACC Appoints Sanjay Mangal and Abhai Kumar Srivastav as CBIC Members After Intense Selection Process; One Post Kept in Abeyance
In a significant development at the apex level of India’s indirect tax administration, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has cleared the appointment of two senior officers of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) as Members of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
The appointments follow a rigorous and closely monitored selection exercise conducted to fill three vacancies at the Board. Out of fifteen shortlisted candidates who underwent interviews, two officers have been formally approved, while the third vacancy remains unfilled for the time being.
Newly Appointed Members of CBIC
The officers appointed to the Board are from the 1992 batch of IRS (C&IT), bringing over three decades of administrative and field-level experience to the country’s top indirect tax policy body.
Mr Sanjay Mangal
Sanjay Mangal, presently serving as Chief Commissioner of the Meerut GST & Central Excise Zone, has been appointed as a Member of CBIC. His tenure at the Board will extend until January 2027, in accordance with his service profile and superannuation schedule.
During his tenure in Meerut, Mangal has overseen GST implementation, compliance monitoring, and enforcement operations across a significant revenue jurisdiction. His elevation to the Board is expected to strengthen institutional oversight in GST administration and indirect tax governance.
Mr Abhai Kumar Srivastav
Abhai Kumar Srivastav, currently heading the Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) as Director General, has also been appointed as a Member of CBIC. His tenure at the Board is slated to continue until February 2028.
As chief of the DRI — India’s premier anti-smuggling and economic intelligence agency — Srivastav has supervised high-profile investigations involving customs fraud, cross-border financial crimes, and illicit trade networks. His induction into the Board is expected to bolster CBIC’s enforcement architecture and intelligence-driven operations.
Competitive and Multi-Stage Selection Process
The appointments come after a structured and competitive selection process that began in late December 2025 and concluded in mid-January 2026.
Fifteen senior IRS (C&IT) officers were shortlisted and interviewed to fill three vacancies created due to the retirement of the following CBIC Members:
Mr Sanjay Kumar Agrawal (IRS: 1988)
Ms Shashank Priya (IRS: 1988)
Ms Aruna Narayan Gupta (IRS: 1989)
Despite the availability of three positions, the ACC has so far approved only two appointments, indicating a calibrated and selective approach in finalising leadership at the apex level of the Board.
One Position Remains Vacant
The third Member position at CBIC remains vacant as of now. According to sources familiar with the development, while a candidate had reportedly reached an advanced stage of consideration, the formal approval has been deferred.
Insiders suggest that the government may be undertaking additional internal consultations and procedural clearances before making a final decision. The delay has led to speculation regarding administrative vetting processes, though no official clarification has been issued.
Until the third appointment is confirmed, the Board will function with two newly inducted Members alongside the existing leadership structure.
Strategic Importance for CBIC
The appointments come at a crucial juncture for CBIC, which plays a central role in implementing Goods and Services Tax (GST), customs regulation, trade facilitation, and indirect tax enforcement across India.
Over the past several years, the Board has been navigating:
Increased digitalisation of tax systems
Advanced data analytics for compliance monitoring
Strengthened anti-evasion measures
Enhanced cross-border trade surveillance
Greater coordination with global customs and intelligence agencies
With indirect taxes forming a substantial portion of India’s revenue framework, leadership continuity at the Board level is essential to maintaining administrative stability and policy momentum.
The induction of officers with deep operational experience in GST zones and anti-smuggling intelligence is expected to reinforce CBIC’s dual mandate of revenue mobilisation and enforcement integrity.
Role of the ACC in Senior Appointments
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet serves as the final approving authority for senior-level bureaucratic appointments across the Government of India. Its clearance reflects a comprehensive evaluation of service records, seniority positions, vigilance status, and overall suitability for high-level policy and administrative roles.
While empanelment or shortlisting initiates the process, formal appointment as a Board Member requires ACC approval, making the committee’s decision a decisive step in shaping the top administrative leadership of the country’s revenue services.
Leadership Transition in Indirect Tax Administration
The induction of Sanjay Mangal and Abhai Kumar Srivastav marks a new phase in CBIC’s leadership realignment. Both officers bring extensive field experience spanning GST implementation, customs enforcement, intelligence gathering, and policy execution.
At a time when indirect tax administration is increasingly technology-driven and enforcement-oriented, the Board’s composition carries strategic implications for economic governance, border management, and regulatory compliance.
With one position still awaiting confirmation, attention will now turn to when the third Member appointment is finalised, completing the leadership reshuffle at India’s apex indirect tax authority.
