With Madhabi Puri Buch’s tenure as Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) set to end on February 28, anticipation is mounting over who will take charge of the country’s market regulator. While speculation is rife in power corridors, no one is willing to make firm predictions, as the government has a history of making unexpected choices, often proving speculators wrong—past key appointments suggest the same trend.
www.legendofficers.com has reliably learned that the Financial Sector Regulatory Appointments Search Committee (FSRASC) has completed all formalities and recommended the name of a probable candidate to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval. With the government having completed its procedural requirements, an official announcement is expected soon.
Our sources indicate that a seasoned bureaucrat could be appointed as the next SEBI Chairperson. The names currently under consideration include:
- Tuhin Kanta Pandey (IAS:1987:OR) – Finance Secretary & Revenue Secretary
- Ajay Seth (IAS:1987:AM) – Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs
- Pankaj Jain (IAS:1987:AM) – Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
- Ashwani Bhatia – Whole-Time Member, SEBI
- Anand Mohan Bajaj (IA&AS:1990) – Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (Former SEBI Member)
Among these, the first three names—Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Ajay Seth, and Pankaj Jain—are seen as the top contenders.
The central government had invited applications for the SEBI Chairman’s post on January 27, 2025. The appointment will be made based on the recommendation of the FSRASC, which also holds the discretion to suggest a candidate who has not formally applied, provided they meet the eligibility and merit criteria.
