New Delhi: Former finance secretary Ajay Narayan Jha has stepped in to fill the vacancy left by bureaucrat Shaktikanta Das in the 15th Finance Commission of India. A 1982 batch IAS officer of Manipur cadre, Jha superannuated as a finance secretary to the Government of India on February 28 and has now joined as a member of the Commission on Friday.

An official statement said, "Ajay Narayan Jha today joined the Fifteenth Finance Commission as its member. He joins in place of Shaktikanta Das who had resigned as a member of the Commission after being appointed as governor, Reserve Bank of India."

Jha has held the post of the Secretary in the 14th Finance Commission as well, which was then helmed by former RBI Governor YV Reddy.