Bhubaneswar: In PM Narendra Modi era, Odisha cadre or Odia IAS, IPS seems to hog the spotlight. From Odia IAS Pramod Mishra, Saktikanat Das to Manoj Ahuja, Odisha IPS Prakash Mishra, YK Jethwa and, now, Tuhin Kanta Pandey have been bestowed with prime responsibilities. And, Odisha, literally, figures among the central theme in the country.
It is PM Modi who has appointed Sambalpur born Gujarat cadre Odia IAS officer as Principal Secretary in the PMO.
Another Odia IAS from Tamil Nadu cadre, Saktikanta Das, had been the key man of Modi during the demonitisation period. Modi made this odia IAS to helm the central bank (RBI). And, now, Das has been appointed as Principal Secy – 2 at the PMO.
Not only couple of IAS officials, In PM Modi’s dispensation, many Odia or Odisha cadre IAS/IPS officials were given cream positions in the Central bureacracy. The list is given below.
- Odisha cadre IPS officer Prakash Mishra – CRPF DG, after retirement Special Secy (J&K)
- Odisha cadre IAS officer Manoj Ahuja - Agriculture Secretary
- Odisha cadre IPS officer YB Khurania – BSF DG
- Odisha cadre IPS officer YK Jethwa – IG, SPG heading the PM security from 2015-20.
- Odisha cadre IAS officer Tuhin Kanti Pandey – appointed Finance Secretary in Sept 2024, and the 2025 budget with Midas touch of no tax upto Rs 12 lakh income has been helmed by him.
In that sequel, Friday, buoyed by his efficient work delivery style at the Finance Secy and Secy DIPAM (Department of Investment and Public Asset Managment), the Appointment Committee of Cabinet helmed by PM Modi appointed the incumbent Finance Secy Tuhin Kanata Pandey as the 11th chairman of the market regulator body – the SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India).
The Odisha cadre IAS would have been retiring this June. But before retirement PM Modi has appointed him as the Chairman of SEBI for tenure of three years.
The IAS officer will be succeeding Madhavi Puri Buch, an investment banker, who was recently faced with a fusillade of allegations by the Hidenburg research with regard to conflict of interest.
It seems so because, after Modi govt came to power, it has first appointed SEBI chairperson in 2017. Ajay Tyagi ( Financial sector specialist) remained in office till 2022.
Madhavi Buch was appointed on March 1 2022, and she became the first women chief of SEBI. As allegations swirled around her, it seems Modi govt has not repeated her. Instead, a non-controversial IAS officer has been sent to man the chairman of SEBI.
WHO IS TUHIN KANT PANDEY?
The Odisha cadre IAs officer, thus, became the THIRD civil servant to adorn the chairman post of SEBI. The two others were:
- DR MEHTA (1995-2002)
- M DAMODARAN (2005-2008)
- TUHIN KANT PANDEY (March 1 , 2025 ---)
This senior-most Odisha IAS officer of 1987 batch, known in Odisha bureaucratic circles as a soft spoken and upright civil servant, he rose from under secretary Finance in Odisha govt to hold the rank of Principal Secretary Finance in 2016. He helmed the Odisha Finace dept till 2019.
From Oct 2019, the Odisha Cadre IAS officer went on central deputation. He was assigned the secretary DIPAM.
When senior IAS officer Suresh Mahapatra retired from Odisha Chief Secretary post, he was next to be appointed as the Chief Secreatry of Odisha, but the IAs officer didn’t express his wish to revert to the parent cadre.
A STRATEGIC THINKER!
Armed with training on Leadership and Strategic Thinking from Cambridge University, this Odisha acdre IAS is known for presenting a strategic perspective. PM Modi impressed with him for his perspective as Secretary DIPAM, where he played the crucial role in Air India disinvestment.
In the year 2006, this IAS officer had a training on MBA (Public works) from University of Birmingham.
Though he graduated with English, Economic has been his subject during the Post graduate studies. During his stint as Principal Secy Finance to Odisha govt, the budgets saw the formation of schemes like – Basudha (drinking water supply programme), KALIA and BSKY. It was seen that the budgets helmed by Pandey focussed heavily on education, drinking water, irrigation etc.
A civil servant with domain expertise in Finance, investment and economic policy, he rightly suits to the post of chairman of SEBI – the body which regulates Capital markets, ensures investor protection and implementing financial reforms.
The country still remembers the stock market scam by Harshad Mehta. With his impeccable service record, PM Modi has elevated Tuhin Kanta Pandey to the post, which has recently come under clouds.
