Ahead of beginning of work on the Budget for 2016-17, the government today designated Ratan P Watal as the new finance secretary even as a new team of officials took charge at the finance ministry.

Shaktikanta Das, 58, took charge as the secretary for department of economic affairs after Rajiv Mehrishi on his last day in office was appointed home secretary for a two-year tenure.

Das, who was the revenue secretary, held discussions at length with his successor Hasmukh Adhia. "Yes, they have taken charge," a ministry official said when asked if Das and Adhia have taken charge.

Adhia, who headed the department of financial services, passed on the baton to Anjuly Chib Duggal. A government statement said, "The prime minister has approved the designation of R P Watal, the senior-most secretary in the ministry of finance, as the finance secretary."

Traditionally, the senior-most bureaucrat in the finance ministry is named the finance secretary. Watal, 59, is a 1978-batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS officer while Das belongs to 1980 batch from Tamil Nadu cadre.

Das is an old economic affairs hand, having worked as joint secretary in-charge of budget. He also served as additional secretary in the DEA before moving as fertiliser secretary. In June last year, he was brought back to finance ministry after Rajiv Takru was shunted out.