Arvind Shrivastava, a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Karnataka cadre, took over as Secretary of the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, on May 1, 2025, and it was a turning point for India’s tax administration.Shrivastava was appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on April 18, 2025, and has a long experience in positions in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Ministry of Finance, and global organizations such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB).As India’s USD 3.5 trillion economy navigates global trade tensions and domestic tax reforms, Shrivastava’s leadership is critical to achieving a USD 3 billion tax administration market by 2030, though challenges like MSME compliance and digital infrastructure gaps loom large.Shrivastava’s appointment comes after a top-level bureaucratic reorganization, with ACC sanctioning 18 senior IAS postings, including Vumlunmang Vualnam as Expenditure Secretary and Anuradha Thakur as Officer on Special Duty, Department of Economic Affairs, according to a 2025 PIB statement.A civil engineer with post-graduate qualifications in economics from Mysore University and finance from the University of London, Shrivastava has worked as Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary in the PMO dealing with personnel and administration, and as Joint Secretary in the Budget Division of the Department of Economic Affairs, according to a 2025 report in Hindustan Times.His Karnataka stint involved working as Finance Secretary, Urban Development Secretary, and Managing Director of the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation, according to a 2025 Business Standard report.Charged with leading revenue mobilization, Shrivastava is confronted with pressing challenges, such as the roll-out of the Income Tax Bill, 2025, from April 1, 2026, that streamlines tax structures, minimizes litigation, and unifies TDS provisions, according to a 2025 Business Standard report.He will also lead the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s initiatives on rate rationalization, inclusion of petroleum and real estate, and ease of compliance for MSMEs, which account for 35% of GST collections but incur ₹1–2 lakh a month in compliance expenses, according to a 2024 SIDBI report.International trade disputes, especially U.S. tariff threats, require systematic customs policies to safeguard important industries such as automobiles and electronics, which are subject to 20% cost pressures, according to a 2024 CII report.

Shrivastava’s PMO background is likely to improve coordination between enforcement agencies under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and Income Tax Act, thereby strengthening anti-money laundering measures, according to a 2025 Livemint report. His leadership at the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) utilizes AI to trace black money, confiscating ₹10,000 crore in 2024, according to a 2024 CII report.

Digitalization is a priority, with the direct and indirect tax systems set for speeding up, although regulatory lags (4–6 years versus China’s 2) and the low digital literacy of 40% of small taxpayers are major obstacles, according to a 2024 Nasscom report.

Government efforts underwrite Shrivastava’s mandate. The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, with ₹50,000 crore, supports MSMEs, contributing 30% of tax collections. PM Gati Shakti reduces logistics expenses by 20%, facilitating trade compliance. The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) increases MSME tax filings by 25%, but only 15% are registered. 

Skill India’s 2 million skilled personnel, with only 5% having tax tech skills, enable digital transformation. The Public Financial Management System (PFMS) reduces revenue leakages by 30%, per a 2024 CGA report.

There are still challenges. Gaps in infrastructure, such as unstable power, interrupt digital tax platforms, impacting 20% of local offices. Volatility in global trade, hitting 30% of India’s exports, contributes to the pressure, according to a 2024 UNCTAD report. Shrivastava needs to tackle low adoption of ONDC and skill deficiencies at Tier 2 cities to make compliance inclusive. 

Experts offer solutions. The Technology Upgradation Scheme subsidies can soften MSME expenses. Scaling up Skill India’s tax tech education will fill gaps. Improving 5G and power reliability through PM Gati Shakti will stabilize platforms. Public-private collaborations with IITs can create affordable tax tools. CII campaigns can mobilize ONDC and reform awareness.

Shrivastava’s leadership, supported by his varied experience, prepares him to tackle India’s intricate tax landscape. Through driving digitalization, ease of compliance, and meeting global challenges, he can strengthen India’s revenue ecosystem, opening the door to a strong Viksit Bharat by 2030.

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