New Delhi: India has secured a significant position in the global fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, with senior bureaucrat Vivek Aggarwal being elected vice president of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Aggarwal, a 1994-batch IAS officer and currently Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, was elected during the FATF plenary held in Paris from June 17 to 19. He will serve a one-year term from July 2026 to June 2027 and succeed Giles Thomson of the UK, who has held the post since July 2025, according to an official statement.
The election is being viewed as a diplomatic and strategic gain for India, which has consistently pushed for stronger global action against terrorism financing and illicit financial networks.
As vice president, Aggarwal will assist the FATF president in advancing the body’s mandate of setting international standards to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and other threats to the integrity of the global financial system.
The FATF comprises 40 member jurisdictions and influences anti-financial crime measures in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
The Ministry of External Affairs described the development as a major achievement for India. Official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the appointment reinforces India’s commitment to a zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism and its efforts to disrupt global terrorist financing networks.
“His profound expertise as the former Head of India’s FATF delegation and former Director of FIU-IND will advance FATF’s mandate to secure financial integrity,” Jaiswal said in a post on X.
Officials said the development underscores India’s growing influence in shaping global financial governance and strengthens its voice in international efforts aimed at safeguarding financial integrity and combating illicit financial flows.
