Government Names IRS Veteran Vivek Chaturvedi as Chairman of CBIC, Succeeding Sanjay Kumar Agarwal After Completion of Tenure
In a significant overhaul at the top of India’s indirect tax administration, the government has selected Vivek Chaturvedi, a senior officer from the 1990 batch of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes), to serve as the new Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). The appointment was formally cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), marking his rise to the highest leadership position within India’s indirect taxation framework.
The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) issued the order confirming that Chaturvedi will take charge following the retirement of Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, a 1988-batch IRS officer, who completed his term and demitted office on 28 November 2025.
From Vigilance Leadership to Board Chairmanship: Chaturvedi’s Professional Journey
Before stepping into the chairmanship, Chaturvedi was serving as a Member of CBIC, an elevation he received in September 2025. Prior to joining the Board, he held the critical position of Principal Director General of Vigilance and Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) for the indirect tax establishment.
In that role, he led nationwide vigilance operations, strengthened integrity systems, and supervised disciplinary oversight across Customs, CGST, and related formations. His tenure was marked by efforts to modernize internal control mechanisms, enhance accountability structures, and embed greater transparency within the tax administration.
His appointment as Board Member in September 2025 came after the superannuation of Vivek Ranjan, Member (Tax Policy & Legal), who retired on 31 August 2025.
Major Leadership Changes Underway at CBIC
Chaturvedi’s elevation comes at a time when CBIC is witnessing an unusually high turnover at the senior-most level. Apart from Agarwal’s retirement and the earlier exit of Vivek Ranjan, two more Members of CBIC are slated to retire on 30 November 2025, triggering a broad reshuffle within the Board.
This reshaping of top leadership signals a structural transition across India’s indirect tax governance space, with Chaturvedi’s appointment expected to set the tone for a series of consequential administrative decisions in the months ahead.
A Tenure Expected to Emphasize Vigilance, Reform, and Transparency
Professionally known for his deep expertise in vigilance, compliance, investigations, and tax administration, Chaturvedi is widely regarded as a seasoned officer capable of steering CBIC through a phase of rapid regulatory and technological change.
His background in vigilance suggests a continued governmental focus on:
Upholding strong internal audit systems
Bolstering anti-corruption mechanisms
Ensuring greater transparency and institutional integrity
With rising expectations from taxpayers and evolving compliance norms, his leadership is anticipated to help CBIC further refine its policy frameworks while improving service delivery across customs and GST operations.
Steering India’s Indirect Tax Administration During a Transforming Landscape
Chaturvedi takes charge at a time when India’s indirect tax ecosystem—built primarily around the Goods and Services Tax (GST)—is undergoing continuous evolution. The coming years are expected to see:
Expanded GST compliance automation
Deeper integration of digital tools in customs clearance
Stronger enforcement against tax evasion and smuggling
Faster processing of refunds and dispute resolution
With more than three decades of experience in various operational, policy, enforcement, and administrative posts, Chaturvedi’s knowledge base is expected to support:
Strengthening GST and customs processes
Streamlining enforcement strategies
Enhancing efficiency and taxpayer facilitation
Accelerating modernization within CBIC’s departments
His appointment is expected to provide continuity at a time when the Board is preparing for several important reforms that could reshape indirect taxation in India.
About CBIC: India’s Nodal Body for Customs and Indirect Taxes
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) operates under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It is responsible for framing policy, enforcing laws, and administering indirect taxes such as:
Goods and Services Tax (GST)
Customs duties
Central excise duties
CBIC also oversees anti-smuggling operations, narcotics control under customs law, trade facilitation measures, and compliance monitoring across its nationwide network of Customs Commissionerates, CGST zones, GST Commissionerates, Directorates, and allied institutions.
The Board is headed by a Chairman and includes six Members, each supervising key wings such as customs, GST, investigation, audit, legal affairs, and administration.
