The Union Cabinet approved the creation of three posts at the level of joint secretary for assisting the 16th Finance Commission, chaired by Arvind Panagariya.

• Out of three officer-level posts, two are joint secretaries and the other one is economic adviser.
• The newly created posts are required to assist the commission in carrying out its functions. All other posts in the panel have already been created as per the delegated powers.
• The finance commission is a constitutional body, which gives suggestions on the centre-state financial relations.
• This prior announcement comes after the Cabinet’s appointment of former vice chairman of Niti Aayog Arvind Panagariya as the chairman of the commission on December 31, while Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey was named as the secretary to the commission.