Economic affairs secretary may get 3-month extension

New Delhi: Economic affairs secretary R Gopalan is likely to get a three-month extension to help the government complete the process of passage of 2012-13 Budget in Parliament. Gopalan, a 1976 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, is scheduled to retire on 30 April.[caption id=“attachment_265293” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Secretary, DEA, R Gopalan. Image courtesy PIB “]  [/caption] “Gopalan is likely to get an extension for three months till July”, an official said. Gopalan, who took charge as secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the finance ministry in February last year, has played an important role in formulation of the 2012-13 Budget which was unveiled by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on 16 March in the Lok Sabha. Although the first phase of the budgetary exercise is over with Parliament approving the vote-on-account, the demands for grants and Finance Bill are still pending. Parliament will take up for demands for grants and Financial Bill for discussion and passage when the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha meet after recess for the second half of the Budget session beginning 24 April. The finance bill contains proposals relating to direct and indirect taxes. Prior to his appointment as DEA secretary, Gopalan was secretary in the Department of Financial Services. Meanwhile, the Appointment Committee of Cabinet has appointed Sunil Soni, a Maharashtra cadre 1981 IAS officer as additional secretary in the Department of Financial Services in the finance ministry. PTI