Anuradha Thakur, IAS to Take Over as DEA Secretary from July 1, 2025 Succeeding Ajay Seth [Read Notification]

With effect from July 1, 2025, the Central Government has named Ms. Anuradha Thakur, a senior IAS officer, the first woman Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) succeeding Ajay Seth. Also she has been added as a SEBI member.

The appointment was formally notified by the Ministry of Finance through S.O. 2700(E) dated June 14, 2025, invoking the powers conferred under sub-section (4) read with sub-section (1) of Section 4 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992. The notification also amends an earlier government notification dated February 21, 1992 (S.O. 147(E)), which outlines the composition of key officials within the Department of Economic Affairs.

As per the notification, Ms. Thakur has been designated as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Department until June 30, 2025, and will formally take over as Secretary, DEA, from July 1, 2025.

Ms. Anuradha Thakur is a Himachal Pradesh cadre Indian Administrative Service official who was born in 1994. Having held numerous important positions at the state and federal levels in the past, she brings a depth of administrative and financial knowledge to the position.

She served as the Director of the Companies Act's Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). Throughout her time at DIPAM, she played an important part in the regulation of asset monetization, the introduction of the HARAT Bond Exchange Traded Fund, and the strategic disinvestment of Air India, reported BusinessLine.

The Department of Economic Affairs, an essential division of the Ministry ofFinance, is in charge of developing and overseeing India's economic policies, which include foreign exchange management, investment flows, international economic cooperation, and development funding. Additionally, it is essential to the formulation of the budget and to coordination with global financial organizations such as the World Bank, ADB, and IMF.

She would represent the government on the boards of SEBI and RBI, two important regulators, as the Economic Affairs Secretary. Additionally, she would have to make a compelling case for an upgrade before rating agencies. The RBI notification with regards to the same is expected.

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