PhD in Yoga, IIM-A gold medallist: All about Hasmukh Adhia, India's new financial services secy

In yet another secretary-level change, government has appointed Hasmukh Adhia, a 1981 Gujarat cadre IAS officer, as the new Financial Services Secretary replacing G S Sandhu. Adhia has been a member of Modi’s core team for almost ten years now and was principal secretary from 2004 to 2006 in the then chief minister Narendra Modi’s office.

This is the third secretary level change in the Finance Ministry after Former Revenue Secretary Rajiv Takru was shifted to Department of North Eastern Region and Former Finance Secretary Arvind Mayaram was first shifted to Tourism Ministry and later to Minority Affairs Ministry.

Here is all you need to know about Adhia:

1. Adhia at present is the Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department in the Guajrat government. Prior to this, he was Principal Secretary Education Department from till January, 2013 and Principal Secretary tothe then Chief Minister, Gujarat from May 2004 to May 2006.

More from Economy

Inflation likely to be a big focus area for budget 2024, say sources Explained: Will the Bank of Japan break tradition and raise interest rates?

2. He had also held the position of Industries Commissioner, Managing Director, Gujarat Industrial Investment Corporation as well as Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation

3.Adhia has a post graduate degree in accounting and a gold medallist from IIM. He also has a doctoral degree in Yoga from Swami Vivekanada Yoga University, Bengaluru and is currently a member of the board of governors of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He had earlier undergone workshop training at Maxwell School of Public Affairs in US based Syracuse University.

4. Ahmedabad Mirror reports that the ‘Karmayogi’ ( a teachers’ training programme) and ‘Kanya Kelavani’ (for women’s education) programmes are said to be Adhia’s brain child and he is said to enjoy direct access to Modi.The report also said that Adhia is known for no-nonsense attitude and does not cede to any vested interests.

5.Hasmukh Adia has written two motivational books titled ‘My notes to my Self.’ The books deal with govt administration and practical tips for all bureacrats to help in day-to-day governance.