Ravi Agrawal has been reappointed as Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) for six months from 1 July 2026 to 31 December 2026 on a contract basis, with the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approving the extension alongside relaxation of recruitment rules for re‑employed central government officers.
Reappointment Details
- Tenure: 1 July 2026 to 31 December 2026, or until further orders.
- Authority: Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the contract extension.
- Rule relaxation: Extension invoked relaxation of Recruitment Rules applicable to re‑employed central government officers.
About Ravi Agrawal
- Service: 1988‑batch Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax cadre).
- Retirement status: Was due to retire on 30 June 2026; reappointment is on contract after superannuation.
- Earlier appointment: First appointed as CBDT Chairman in June 2024.
CBDT: Role & Functions
- Institutional position: Apex policymaking body of the Income Tax Department under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
- Mandate: Formulation of direct tax policy, administration of direct tax laws, compliance oversight and taxpayer services.
Fiscal Context
- Collections: Net direct tax collections rose 14.64% YoY to Rs 5.21 lakh crore from 1 April to 17 June 2026 (Department of Revenue data).
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Appointment practice: ACC commonly approves appointments/extensions for statutory boards and senior revenue posts.
- Cadre source: CBDT Chair is typically drawn from senior IRS (IT) officers by seniority and experience in direct tax administration.