Tuhin Kanta Pandey to Replace Madhabi Puri Buch as SEBI Chairperson

Tuhin Kanta Pandey, India's finance secretary, has been named the Securities and Exchange Board of India's (SEBI) eleventh chairperson, for a three-year term. He will take over for Madhabi Puri Buch, who will step down as SEBI's first female chairperson on February 28, 2025.

The Cabinet has authorized the appointment of Pandey, IAS (OR: 1987), Finance Secretary, and Secretary, Department of Revenue to the position of SEBI chairperson, per a notification issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Thursday, February 27. The original term of Pandey's appointment is three years from the date of his assumption of leadership.

Pandey Takes Charge Amid Market Challenges

Pandey takes over while the Indian stock market is under bearish pressure as a result of foreign institutional investors' (FIIs') ongoing withdrawals. In 2025, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) took out more over Rs 1.13 lakh crore.

Who is Tuhin Kanta Pandey?

Pandey is an Odisha cadre IAS officer who was drafted in 1987 and has held important government posts. In September 2024, he was named Finance Secretary, taking over from TV Somanathan, who had been promoted to Cabinet Secretary. Prior to that, he oversaw the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) and the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE).

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Pandey’s Key Contributions

Major economic choices, such as the historic sale of Air India and the public listing of LIC, were significantly influenced by him.

In his capacity as Finance Secretary, Pandey played a critical role in overseeing the ministry's functioning and providing policy advice to the Finance Minister. He played a key role in forming India's fiscal and economic policies while representing the ministry before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee.

With his extensive background in financial management and governance, Pandey now leads SEBI, ushering in a new era in his remarkable career.

Tuhin Kanta Pandey Educational Background

Pandey has an MBA from the UK and an MA in Economics from Punjab University in Chandigarh. Throughout his career, he has held important administrative positions in both the central and state governments of Odisha.

In addition to holding a number of jobs in industries like health, transportation, and commercial taxation, he was the Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and the District Collector of Sambalpur.

Prior to his leadership position at DIPAM, where he oversaw significant disinvestment activities, he served as Joint Secretary at the Planning Commission. In 2021, he also served for a short time as Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation.