New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) In a significant reshuffle within the Finance Ministry, senior IAS officer Arunish Chawla has been reassigned from his position as revenue secretary to head the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), a move which comes three weeks ahead of the Union Budget.

DIPAM secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey has been appointed as the new revenue secretary in place of Chawla, according to a personnel ministry order. Pandey is also the finance secretary.

The changes come at a time when the Finance Ministry is working on the the Union Budget, scheduled for presentation on February 1. Wednesday's reshuffle is seen as the government's strategic adjustments as it gears up for the crucial financial planning period ahead.

Chawla, a 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Bihar cadre, was appointed as the revenue secretary only on December 25 last year. He was then working as the Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals.

He will also hold additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance and Secretary, Ministry of Culture till the appointment of a regular incumbent, the order said.

Pandey, a 1987-batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre, was also holding the additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises. PTI AKV SKL AKV SKY SKY

Administrative reshuffle transfers revenue secretary to investment and public asset management, with finance secretary assuming revenue responsibilities. A Finance Ministry personnel order reassigns the revenue secretary to lead investment and public asset management, appoints the incumbent investment head as revenue secretary and finance secretary, and directs that the reassigned officer will hold additional charge of two other secretary-level posts until regular appointments are made, effectuating senior civil service reassignments ahead of the Union Budget to ensure continuity and inter-ministerial coordination.