News Desk: In a significant diplomatic and financial governance milestone, India has secured the Vice-Presidency of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for the first time since becoming a member of the global watchdog in 2010.
Vivek Aggarwal, a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre and currently serving as Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, has been elected as the next Vice-President of FATF, the world’s premier body combating money laundering, terrorist financing and illicit financial flows.
The appointment places an Indian official among the top leadership of the Paris-based organization, reflecting India’s growing influence in shaping global financial security standards.
ЁЯФ╣ India to assume Vice-Presidency of the Financial Action Task Force for the first time
ЁЯФ╣ Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, @MinOfCultureGoI, appointed Vice-President of FATF for the term of July 2026- June 2027
ЁЯФ╣ The Vice-President of the #FATF is elected by the FATF Plenary fromтАж pic.twitter.com/WAVPfYNl3c
тАФ PIB India (@PIB_India) June 19, 2026
According to the Government of India, the FATF Vice-President is elected by the FATF Plenary from among member countries and works closely with the President in steering the organization’s strategic priorities and international initiatives.
Reacting to his election, Aggarwal described the appointment as a recognition of India’s collective efforts in strengthening its anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing framework.
“I am deeply honoured to serve and look forward to working with the FATF Global Network to keep the international financial system safe, inclusive and resilient,” he said.
Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Paris, FATF sets global standards and promotes effective implementation of measures to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of weapons proliferation. Its President serves a two-year term, assisted by the Vice-President in coordinating activities across the organization’s global network.
Experts view Aggarwal’s elevation as a major achievement for India, underscoring the country’s rising stature in international financial governance and its growing role in global efforts to curb illicit financial activities.
With this landmark appointment, India has strengthened its voice at the highest levels of the international financial system, marking another step forward in its expanding global leadership profile.
