Sonal Bajaj and Pankaj K. Singh, Two 1998-Batch IRS(C&IT) Officers, Promoted to HAG as Principal Commissioner

Sonal Bajaj and Pankaj K. Singh, both 1998-batch officers of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes), have been promoted to the Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) with the rank of Principal Commissioner.

HAG is the grade at which IRS (C&IT) officers head major field formations or take up senior board-level roles. A Principal Commissioner in the customs and GST set-up usually runs a zone or commissionerate, supervising assessment, enforcement and the collection of indirect taxes.

The IRS (C&IT), earlier the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise), staffs the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and its field offices. Officers of the 1998 batch have now put in about 28 years of service. The order does not list the earlier postings of either officer.

Promotion to HAG is a grade upgrade, and the posting of each officer is usually notified separately. Neither officer's new charge is stated in the brief.

Promotions to the grade are cleared through the Departmental Promotion Committee, with the Finance Ministry issuing the order. Two officers of the same batch moved up together.