Current Affairs: Passage of the Day - 3 September 2024 | Current Affairs & General Knowledge - CLAT PDF Download

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Dr. T.V. Somanathan today took over as the new Cabinet Secretary in the Government of India after the superannuation of Shri Rajiv Gauba. Dr. Somanathan is an IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre (1987 batch). He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Calcutta University. He has also completed the Executive Development Program of Harvard Business School, and is a fully qualified Chartered Accountant, Cost Accountant and Company Secretary.
Dr. Somanathan has held important assignments at the Centre like Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in Prime Minister’s Office. He also served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and was deputed as Director, Corporate Affairs at the World Bank in Washington DC.  Prior to his joining as Cabinet Secretary, he was holding the charge of Finance Secretary and Secretary, Department of Expenditure.
In the State Government of Tamil Nadu, Dr. Somanathan served at many key positions such as Managing Director of Chennai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd., Secretary to the Chief Minister and was Additional Chief Secretary & Commissioner of Commercial Taxes during the crucial phase of roll out of GST. He also served as Commissioner, Disciplinary Proceedings. As founder Managing Director of Metro Rail Corporation Limited, Chennai, he was responsible for achieving financial closure and awarding the initial tenders for implementing the Chennai Metro Rail Project.
Dr. Somanathan joined the World Bank in 1996, Washington through the Young Professionals Program, as Financial Economist in the East Asia & Pacific Regional Vice Presidency. He became one of the Bank’s youngest Sector Managers when he was appointed Manager of the Budget Policy Group. In 2011, his services were sought by the World Bank and he served as Director from 2011 to 2015.
Dr. Somanathan has published over 80 papers and articles in journals and newspapers on economics, finance and public policy, and is the author of three books published by McGraw Hill, Cambridge/ Oxford University Press.
[Excerpt from PIB "Who is Dr.TV Somanathan, the New Cabinet Secretary of India?" Dated 03/09/24]

Q1: Who has recently been appointed as the Cabinet Secretary of India?
(a) Rajiv Gauba
(b) TV Somanathan
(c) Ajay Bhalla
(d) S Jaishankar

View Answer  

Ans: (b) TV Somanathan
Sol: TV Somanathan has recently been appointed as the Cabinet Secretary of India.

Q2: Who did TV Somanathan succeed as the Cabinet Secretary?
(a) Rajiv Gauba
(b) S Jaishankar
(c) Amitabh Kant
(d) Ajay Bhalla

View Answer  

Ans: (a) Rajiv Gauba
Sol: TV Somanathan succeeded Rajiv Gauba as the Cabinet Secretary.

Q3: How long did Rajiv Gauba serve as the Cabinet Secretary of India?
(a) Three years
(b) Four years
(c) Five years
(d) Six years

View Answer  

Ans: (c) Five years
Sol: Rajiv Gauba served as the Cabinet Secretary of India for five years.

Q4: When was TV Somanathan appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary?
(a) July 1, 2024
(b) August 10, 2024
(c) September 15, 2024
(d) October 20, 2024

View Answer  

Ans: (b) August 10, 2024
Sol: TV Somanathan was appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary on August 10, 2024.

Q5: Before becoming the Cabinet Secretary, what was TV Somanathan’s position?
(a) Union Home Secretary
(b) Secretary to the President
(c) Union Finance Secretary
(d) Secretary to the Prime Minister

View Answer  

Ans: (c) Union Finance Secretary
Sol: Before becoming the Cabinet Secretary, TV Somanathan was the Union Finance Secretary.