The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of two senior IRS (Customs & Indirect Taxes) officers as Members of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), strengthening leadership at the country’s apex indirect tax authority.

The appointments follow a rigorous selection process in which fifteen candidates were interviewed for three vacant positions, reflecting the high level of scrutiny involved in filling these key posts.

Newly Appointed CBIC Members

The officers appointed—both from the 1992 batch of IRS (C&IT)—are:

• Sanjay Mangal, currently serving as Chief Commissioner, Meerut GST & CX Zone. His tenure as CBIC Member will continue until January 2027.

• Abhai Kumar Srivastav, presently Director General of the Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the premier anti-smuggling agency. His tenure will run until February 2028.

Officials said the appointments are aimed at reinforcing CBIC’s capacity during a phase of continued modernization of indirect tax administration, alongside enhanced focus on compliance, enforcement, and trade facilitation.

Competitive Selection Process

The selection process began in late December 2025 and concluded in mid-January 2026, with fifteen shortlisted candidates interviewed for the positions. The vacancies arose following the retirement of senior officers:

• Sanjay Kumar Agrawal (IRS: 1988)

• Shashank Priya (IRS: 1988)

• Aruna Narayan Gupta (IRS: 1989)

Despite three available posts, the ACC approved appointments for only two positions at this stage.

Third Position Remains Vacant

Sources indicated that the third CBIC Member slot remains unfilled for now. While a candidate was reportedly close to finalization, the appointment has been kept on hold, with administrative authorities opting to complete further internal vetting before issuing orders.

Strengthening Indirect Tax Governance

The induction of experienced officers with backgrounds in GST administration, intelligence, and enforcement is expected to support CBIC’s evolving role in improving tax compliance, combating smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade.

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With India’s indirect tax framework continuing to expand and digitize, the new leadership is seen as critical to advancing the government’s broader economic and regulatory objectives.

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