After six straight budgets including a vote on account (7, February 2024), Rajasthan had a different set of ‘budget architects' led by Principal Secretary Vaibhav Galriya – five years younger to Akhil Arora, who had prepared budgets on the previous six consecutive occasions.
The average age of ‘budget architects' is 44 years with Nathmal Didel, Special Secretary, 35 being the youngest and Amita Sharma, who has been promoted from accounts services, is the eldest at 54 years. The captain Vaibhav Galriya is of 51 years. The finance minister Diya Kumar, who is also the deputy chief minister, too is of 55 years of age.
The budget has covered all aspects including the quintessential political messaging. The size of the budget this year has gone up by almost 10% from previous year to Rs 6,10,956 crore. From providing health cover, social security to infrastructure resurrection – the budget addressed every aspect of urban living. Then the budget didn't neglect the rural governance also with focus on agriculture and jobs in rural sector including opening BPOs.
Though the announcement of new government jobs has been withheld, the government announced constituting a high power committee for recommendations on 8th pay commission.
The team:
Vaibhav Galriya, 51, has proved his mettle in several departments including Urban Development, Public Works Department, Medical and Health in his previous assignments. His magical touch continued in the Finance department also. By every yardstick, his maiden budget has all the ingredients for a balanced economic growth. He was ably supported by team of young bureaucrats who are also new to the department.
Tina Soni, 46, who is serving as secretary (expenditure)is just three months old in the department. She was on central deputation where she performed exceptionally well in the fertiliser department as Joint Secretary. On her return to home cadre, she was first given appointment as Divisional Commissioner Bharatpur before transferring her to the finance department in November 2025.
Rajan Vishal, 44, is serving as Secretary (Budget). He also joined the department along with Tina Soni in November 2025. Prior to that, he was serving as Secretary Agriculture and Horticulture. As Secretary Budget, he has an important task to compile and give finishing touches to budgetary demands collected from various advisory bodies and sections of society. He had his task cut out to prepare a document who would please all sections and also act as political statement of the government which has just completed two years. His previous role as Agriculture Secretary must have had come handy while finalising agriculture proposals.
Kumar Pal Gautam, 41, is serving as Secretary Revenue. He is the only IAS officer in the team who was part of last budget. Gautam has an important task at hand to generate revenues to fuel this mega sized budget. He has proved it past and has been performing extremely well generating revenues while doubling up as Commissioner, Commercial Taxes and Director General, Revenue Intelligence and Economic Offences. Incidentally, during his tenure, Rajasthan had highest ever GST collections and had highest ever recovery from raids.
Nathmal Didel, 35 is the youngest officer in the team. He is serving as Special Secretary Taxation. He did good job by not levying any fresh tax and at the same time launching amnesty schemes to recover old dues. The reduction in taxes on vehicles purchased outside states is a welcome step and at the same time reduction on registration charges on loan documents will also provide relief to general public. Tweaking with taxes in a limited scope needs utmost attention and pure percussion. This time Didel has passed with flying colours.
Bharti Dixit, 38, is serving as Joint Secretry Expenditure – I supporting ably to Tina Soni. Dixit is considered as diligent officer with good track record. His tenure as Collector in Ajmer and Jhalawar is still remembered. As Joint Secretary, Dixit had a tough task to compute expenditure and keep it within striking range as to meet the revenue lines.
Amita Sharma, 54, is the eldest member on the board. She is the old hand in the finance department being promoted to IAS from state accounts services in August last year. She is serving as Joint Secretary Expenditure II. She has almost 30 years of experience working on different posts in finance department.
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