Consequent upon the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), Shri Anand Kumar Pal, Indian Cost Accounts Service (ICoAS), has assumed the charge of Chief Adviser (Cost) in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.

A 1997-batch officer of the ICoAS, Shri Anand Kumar Pal was serving as Additional Chief Adviser (Cost) in the Ministry of Defence.

He is a qualified Cost Accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a bachelor’s degree in Law. He has vast experience of over 30 years in the fields of financial analysis, public policy and its implementation, WTO trade policy, and costing and pricing methodologies in both strategic and non-strategic sectors.

He has previously worked in the Department of Economic Affairs, Department of Public Enterprises, Fertilizer Industries Coordination Committee (FICC), Directorate General of Trade Remedies, Ministry of Defence, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), and the Department of Revenue.

During his tenure in the Ministry of Defence, he played a significant role in achieving substantial cost savings in the procurement of defence armaments, equipment, and platforms.

Chief Adviser (Cost) appointment highlights extensive experience in financial analysis, public policy, and costing methodologies across sectors. Shri Anand Kumar Pal, an Indian Cost Accounts Service officer, has assumed charge as Chief Adviser (Cost) in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, following approval by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. The press release notes his professional qualifications in cost accountancy, commerce and law, his more than 30 years of experience in financial analysis, public policy implementation, WTO trade policy, and costing and pricing methodologies, and his prior postings across several departments and organisations.