Race to the Top: Two IRS Officers in Running for CBIC Member Post

The corridors of Indian tax administration are abuzz with speculation over who will fill the coveted position of Member at the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). According to informed sources within the establishment, the contest has narrowed down to two senior officers from the 1991 batch of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise) — Prachi Swaroop and Rimjhim Prasad. Both officers bring decades of experience in indirect taxation, customs administration, and revenue enforcement to the table. Having risen through the ranks of one of India's most critical regulatory bodies, they are regarded as among the most capable contenders from their batch for this senior-level appointment. The CBIC, functioning under the Ministry of Finance's Department of Revenue, plays a pivotal role in formulating and implementing policies related to GST, customs duties, and central excise. A Member-level appointment at the Board carries significant administrative and policy-level responsibilities. Sources indicate that a final decision could come in the coming days, but as of now, the race between the two officers remains too close to call. The bureaucratic grapevine is watching closely, and the announcement — when it comes — is expected to have wider implications for the Board's composition and functioning in the near term.