New Delhi: In a major diplomatic achievement for India, senior bureaucrat Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary in the Government of India, has been elected Vice President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog on money laundering and terror financing.
Announcing the development on X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the appointment as a “major win for India” and said it reflects the country’s growing role in global efforts to combat terrorism financing and illicit financial networks.
“As India continues to champion a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, this leadership role reinforces our relentless focus on combating global terrorist financing networks and dismantling illicit financial systems,” the MEA said.
The ministry highlighted Aggarwal’s experience, noting that he previously headed India’s FATF delegation and served as Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND). It said his expertise would help advance FATF’s mission of protecting global financial integrity.
FATF is an intergovernmental body that sets international standards to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and other threats to the global financial system. Aggarwal’s election is expected to strengthen India’s engagement with the watchdog and enhance its contribution to global efforts against financial crime.
The Ministry of Culture also welcomed the development, saying it reflects the trust and credibility India has earned among more than 200 jurisdictions and underscores its growing influence in shaping policies on emerging risks such as digital payments and virtual assets.
A 1994-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, Aggarwal currently serves as Secretary in the Ministry of Culture. Before assuming the role in April 2025, he was Additional Secretary in the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, where he headed FIU-IND and led India’s FATF delegation.
Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has held key positions in finance, agriculture, urban development, infrastructure, and public policy, and has overseen major initiatives including PM-KISAN, Digital Agriculture, and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
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