Ashok Lavasa took over as Secretary, Department of Expenditure in the Finance Ministry.
Ashok Lavasa succeeds Ratan P Watal. The coveted post of Finance Secretary is also now vacant and an official announcement is expected in the next few days.
A 1980 batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) from the Haryana cadre, Lavasa was previously Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
He will be immediately faced with crucial financial business in the Parliament including the discussion of the General Budget and the Finance Bill.
Watal was given a two-month extension to ensure the smooth passage of the Union Budget 2016-17 and his term finally came to an end on 29 April 2016.