The Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet has appointed TV Somanathan, a 1987-batch IAS officer, as India’s new Cabinet Secretary, effective August 30. Currently serving as the Finance Secretary, Somanathan will have a two-year term. He will first assume the role of Officer on Special Duty in the Cabinet Secretariat until he officially takes over. His previous roles include Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, and Joint Secretary/Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister.