Created by Tharun S Yadla
Last edited March 9, 2021


Ajay Narayan Jha
File:File:Ajay Narayan Jha, IAS addressing an event.jpg


Jha addressing an event at Gandhinagar, Gujarat in March 2017.

Office Member of the Fifteenth Finance Commission of India
Office Finance Secretary of India
Office Expenditure Secretary of India
Office Environment, Forests and Climate Change Secretary of India




Predecessor Shaktikanta Das


Predecessor Hasmukh Adhia
Successor Subhash Chandra Garg



Born 1959-01-15 (age 67)
Born Bihar, India



Nationality Template:Flag





Alma mater John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
McGill University
St. Stephen's College, Delhi University
Occupation Civil servant


Ajay Narayan Jha (born 15 January 1959; IAST: Template:IAST) is a 1982 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Manipur cadre. He was the Finance Secretary of India for three months.[1][2] He was appointed as the member of Fifteenth Finance Commission of India in place of Shaktikanta Das.[3]

Education

Jha has BA (Honours) and MA in history from St. Stephen's College at University of Delhi,[4] a postgraduate degree in executive development from John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University,[4] and has a certificate in French.[4]

Career

Jha has served in various key positions for both the Government of India and the Government of Manipur, like as Principal Secretary (Finance), Principal Secretary (Environment and Forests), chairman of Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MREDA), principal secretary to the Chief Minister of Manipur, secretary to the Governor of Manipur, and as the deputy commissioner and district magistrate of Ukhrul and Churachandpur districts in the Manipur government,[4] and as Union Expenditure Secretary, Union Environment, Forests and Climate Change Secretary, special secretary in Department of Expenditure of the Ministry of Finance, joint secretary and financial adviser in Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Human Resources Development, and as joint secretary and financial adviser in Ministry of Law and Justice.[4]

Jha also served as consultant to United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).[4] In addition, Jha served as the secretary of Fourteenth Finance Commission, a deputy election commissioner in the Election Commission of India,[4] and as Joint Secretary (Administration) in the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, on deputation, under rule 6(2)(ii) of the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules, 1956.[4]

Environment, Forests and Climate Change Secretary

Jha was appointed as the Union Environment, Forests and Climate Change Secretary by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) in April 2016,[5][6][7] he assumed the office of secretary on 1 May 2016,[4] and demitted it on 10 October 2017.[4]

Expenditure Secretary

Jha was appointed as the Union Expenditure Secretary by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) in October 2017,[8][9][10] succeeding Ashok Lavasa, he was made officer on special duty (OSD), in the rank of secretary,[8][9][10] till Lavasa's retirement. Jha assumed the office of secretary on 31 October 2017.[4]

During his tenure as the Union Expenditure Secretary, Jha has been regarded as one of the most important people in the Ministry of Finance.[11]

References

  1. Ajay Narayan Jha Is The New Finance Secretary. www.republicworld.com. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  2. Finance Secretary till Jan 31. www.livemint.com.
  3. Mr.Jha replaces Mr.Das. ndtv.
  4. 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Ajay Narayan Jha - Executive Record Sheet. Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  5. Ashok Lavasa appointed as new expenditure secretary, Prasad, Gireesh Chandra. Live Mint. The Hindu(26 April 2018). Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  6. Ashok Lavasa named Expenditure Secretary. The Economic Times(27 April 2016). Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  7. Govt makes top level bureaucratic changes(26 April 2016). Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Ajay Narayan Jha to replace Ashok Lavasa as new Expenditure Secretary. The Indian Express(12 October 2017). Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Ajay Narayan Jha is new expenditure secretary. The Economic Times(12 October 2017). Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Ajay Narayan Jha will be the next Expenditure Secretary. The Hindu Business Line(11 October 2017). Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  11. Budget 2018: Whom will Jaitley turn to for help? - Jaitley's new team. The Economic Times(22 January 2018). Retrieved 24 February 2018.

Template:Ministry of Finance (India)