The retirement of R.N. Parbat as Member (Legislation) has set off a quiet but intense churn within the CBDT, with senior IRS circles abuzz over succession. Parbat’s stewardship during the rollout of the new Income Tax Act made his role pivotal; now, filling his shoes is seen as a defining move for the Board’s legislative direction.

One outcome is seen as certain: the successor will hail from the 1990 IRS batch, the next in line by seniority. This inevitability has triggered subtle lobbying among high-ranking Chief Commissioners and DGITs, with names like Dr. Narender Kumar, Sunil Bajpai, and Mukesh Verma doing the rounds. With an unprecedented legislative overhaul underway, the government is expected to favour an officer with strong policy and drafting credentials, but the final choice will also reflect strategic zonal and functional balance within the Board

For now, every eligible officer from the 1990 batch stands under the spotlight—testament to how one retirement can ripple across India’s direct tax leadership.