In a major round of senior-level promotions within the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), the Government of India has approved the empanelment and promotion of several 1993-batch Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) officers to the grade of Chief Commissioner/Director General of Customs and Indirect Taxes in the Level 16 of the Pay Matrix (HAG+), effective from the date they assume charge.
The promotions, formalised through Office Order No. 163/2025 issued by the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, come against the panel year 2025 and include both regular and ad-hoc appointments.
The President of India has approved the regular promotion of the following officers to the rank of Chief Commissioner/Director General:
- Arun Kumar (Emp. ID: 781/1993) — Date of Birth: 18.06.1967
- Neeraj Kansal (Emp. ID: 782/1993) — Date of Birth: 29.09.1967
- Harmeet Singh Narang (Emp. ID: 784/1993) — Date of Birth: 14.11.1967
These officers have been empanelled for regular promotion on the basis of their service record and performance, and will assume charge on a regular basis with effect from the date they take over their new assignments.
In addition, the President has approved ad-hoc promotions for the following officers to the same grade:
- Suresh Kumar (Emp. ID: 785/1993) — Date of Birth: 02.12.1966
- Subhash Agrawal (Emp. ID: 786/1993) — Date of Birth: 07.07.1967
However, the order specifies that these ad-hoc promotions do not confer any claim for seniority or future regular promotion. The period of service rendered in the ad-hoc capacity will not count as qualifying service for the next level of promotion. The government has also reserved the right to terminate their ad-hoc appointments at any time and revert them to their previous posts.
The order further states that regular postings for all the promoted officers — including those promoted on a regular or ad-hoc basis — will be issued in due course after approval by the Competent Authority.
Until then, they have been directed to assume charge of their promotional posts on an in-situ basis (i.e., from their current place of posting).
For officers currently serving on deputation, the promotion will take effect only after they return to the parent cadre and formally assume charge. If such officers wish to continue in their deputation roles, the borrowing departments have been asked to forward proposals to the CBIC for consideration of proforma promotion, in line with existing rules.
The order also regularises the promotions of two officers who were earlier serving on an ad-hoc basis.
The President has now approved the regular promotion of:
- M.R.R. Reddy (Emp. ID: 775/1993) — Date of Birth: 15.04.1966
- Sandeep M.S. Puri (Emp. ID: 776/1993) — Date of Birth: 27.08.1968
These officers will be deemed to have been promoted on a regular basis with effect from the date they assumed charge of the post of Chief Commissioner on an ad-hoc basis, as per the earlier Office Order No. 110/2025 dated June 30, 2025.
The CBIC has directed that compliance reports regarding the assumption of charge by all the promoted officers must be sent to the Board immediately, with a copy marked to the Additional Director General (HRM-II), Directorate General of Human Resource Development (DGHRD).
The promotions mark another key administrative development in the ongoing cadre management efforts within CBIC, which oversees both Customs and GST administration across India. The move is expected to strengthen senior-level leadership in critical revenue and enforcement functions under the Ministry of Finance.
Notification Details
Office Order No. 163/2025
Date: 11 October, 2025
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