Arun Jaitley's lieutenants In a year that's likely to see many changes in both the budget and its process, finance minister Arun Jaitley has a well-settled team, one that has been on the job for a while.



The squad, though, has the unenviable task of delivering a budget that's the most anticipated in recent years, with expectations running high post demonetisation.

ASHOK LAVASA, Finance Secretary Lavasa, a 1980-batch IAS officer of the Haryana cadre, spearheaded the streamlining of approvals at the environment ministry, which, under the previous government, was blamed for tardy clearances and corruption.



Lavasa, an avid photographer who co-authored a book, An Uncivil Servant, has a tough task, with this budget likely boasting of many firsts. As finance secretary, he leads the budget-making exercise and has to strike a balance between the expectations of ministries and departments seeking larger allocations and the fiscal deficit goals of the government.

SHAKTIKANTA DAS, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs If there is one bureaucrat who knows the budget better than anyone, it is Das. He has seen it right from the time he was joint secretary budget and has also run the machine from the top for a few years. Das has to deliver a glitch-free budget and pack it with enough reforms to meet expectations.



He needs to provide ideas to put the economy back on track post demonetisation and something extra so that the private sector starts to invest.

HASMUKH ADHIA, Secretary, Department of Revenue Adhia faces the difficult task of de livering big tax collections through the disclosure scheme announced during demonetisation.



A trusted aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Gujarat, Adhia's key focus soon after coming to the revenue department from financial services was to reduce complaints against tax authorities. He has been able to move swiftly against the black sheep in the department and also take steps to reduce litigation.



This budget will be keenly watched for path-breaking changes in direct taxes, starting with elimination of exemptions, reduction in the corporate tax rate and going on to implementation of the goods and services tax.