President Approves Promotion of 18 IRS (Customs & Indirect Taxes) Officers to Commissioner Rank

The President of India has approved the empanelment and promotion of 18 officers of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) to the grade of Commissioner of Customs & Indirect Taxes. The promotions have been granted in Level 14 of the Pay Matrix (SAG) against the panel year 2026, with effect from the date the officers assume charge of their respective posts.

The decision has been formally notified by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) through Office Order No. 05/2026, issued by the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue.

List of Officers Promoted

The officers promoted to the rank of Commissioner are:

1. Mahesh Chand Bhardwaj (DOB: 13.02.1975)
2. Pawan Kumar Khetan (DOB: 01.03.1979)
3. Lakshmikantha D. (DOB: 16.06.1979)
4. Manish Kullary (DOB: 20.11.1982)
5. Manoj Kumar (DOB: 21.10.1975)
6. Kshitendra Verma (DOB: 27.08.1981)
7. Amit Fakkad Ghawate (DOB: 10.03.1978)
8. Ravindra Kumar (DOB: 01.07.1976)
9. Nimba Ram (DOB: 12.03.1981)
10. Jakir Hussain (DOB: 10.11.1977)
11. R. Gopalsamy (DOB: 11.06.1981)
12. Mahendra Kumar Sharma (DOB: 02.09.1980)
13. Nem Singh (DOB: 16.11.1978)
14. Michael Achom (DOB: 01.01.1980)
15. Venkatesh S. (DOB: 07.10.1974)
16. Abilash K. Sreenivasan (DOB: 25.12.1981)
17. Amol Madhukar Ket (DOB: 07.12.1975)
18. Debjit Banerjee (DOB: 07.01.1967)

Posting and Further Conditions

As per the office order, the regular postings of the promoted officers will be decided in due course, subject to approval of the competent authority. Until then, the officers will assume charge of the promotional post on an “in situ” basis, meaning they will hold the higher rank at their current place of posting.

The order further clarifies that officers currently on deputation will be promoted only after they return to the cadre and assume charge of the promotional post. In cases where officers opt to continue in ex-cadre posts, proposals for proforma promotion may be forwarded to the Board for consideration, in accordance with existing rules. A compliance report regarding the assumption of charge by the promoted officers must be sent immediately to the Board through the ADG (HRM-II), DGHRD.

Notification Details

OFFICE ORDER No. 05 / 2026

Date: 12/01/2026

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