Ravi Agrawal Gets One-Year Extension as CBDT Chairman

Government reappoints Agrawal to lead apex tax body amid push for greater efficiency, transparency, and taxpayer-friendly reforms

In a significant move to ensure continuity in tax administration reforms, the government has extended the tenure of Ravi Agrawal as Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) by one year. Agrawal, a 1988 batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer from the Income Tax cadre, will continue in his post from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

According to an official notification, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Agrawal’s re-appointment on a contract basis, under standard terms and conditions applicable to re-employed Central Government officers. His reappointment comes in relaxation of the Recruitment Rules, underscoring the government’s confidence in his leadership.

Agrawal had taken over as CBDT Chairman in June 2024, succeeding Nitin Gupta, a 1986 batch IRS officer. Prior to this, he served as Member (Administration) in the CBDT since July 2023. The CBDT, the apex policymaking body for the Income Tax Department, is headed by a chairman and comprises up to six members at the rank of special secretary.

Meanwhile, under Agrawal’s leadership, the CBDT has issued strict instructions to principal chief commissioners of income tax to monitor their field officers closely. They have been asked to ensure that taxpayers are not burdened with irrelevant or excessive queries during assessments. The board emphasised that scrutiny notices must reflect proper application of mind and all queries should be specific, relevant, and justified.

This directive follows Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s call earlier in the week for simplifying tax compliance, ensuring transparency, and making processes more taxpayer-friendly. She also directed the Income Tax Department to fast-track the resolution of pending disputed tax demands, particularly those under faceless appellate authorities.

As of the beginning of FY 2025-26, around 577,000 tax appeals were pending. The CBDT has set a target to resolve over 225,000 appeals this fiscal, involving more than ₹10 lakh crore in disputed tax demands. The Finance Minister highlighted that timely redressal of taxpayer grievances is vital to ensure responsive and accountable governance.