Dr. T.V. Somanathan, an accomplished bureaucrat and economist, has been appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary of the Government of India, following the superannuation of Rajiv Gauba. Dr. Somanathan, an IAS officer of the 1987 Tamil Nadu cadre, brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise, having held numerous critical positions at both the central and state levels.
A distinguished scholar, Dr. Somanathan holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Calcutta University and has completed the Executive Development Program at Harvard Business School. His academic credentials also include being a fully qualified Chartered Accountant, Cost Accountant, and Company Secretary.
Dr. Somanathan’s illustrious career includes key roles in the Prime Minister’s Office as Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary. He has also served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and was on deputation as Director of Corporate Affairs at the World Bank in Washington, DC. Before assuming the role of Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Somanathan was serving as Finance Secretary and Secretary, Department of Expenditure.
In Tamil Nadu, Dr. Somanathan held various pivotal roles, including Managing Director of Chennai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd., Secretary to the Chief Minister, and Additional Chief Secretary & Commissioner of Commercial Taxes during the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). He was instrumental in the financial closure and initial tender processes for the Chennai Metro Rail Project as its founder Managing Director.
Dr. Somanathan’s international experience includes his tenure at the World Bank, where he joined in 1996 through the Young Professionals Program and served as Financial Economist in the East Asia & Pacific Regional Vice Presidency. He was one of the youngest Sector Managers at the Bank and later became the Director of the Budget Policy Group. He returned to the World Bank in 2011, serving as Director until 2015.
In addition to his administrative and financial expertise, Dr. Somanathan is a prolific writer, having published over 80 papers and articles in various journals and newspapers on economics, finance, and public policy. He is also the author of three books published by prestigious publishers such as McGraw Hill and Cambridge/Oxford University Press.
