Vivek Aggarwal Elected FATF Vice President

Vivek Aggarwal, a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, was elected Vice President of the Financial Action Task Force on 19 June 2026 in Paris. He is the first Indian official to hold the Vice Presidency of the global body that sets standards on money laundering and terrorist financing.

Financial Action Task Force

The Financial Action Task Force, or FATF, is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 by the G7. It frames global standards for anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, and counter-proliferation financing.

Role of the Vice President

The FATF Vice President serves for a one-year term. Vivek Aggarwal will hold the office from July 2026 to June 2027 and will succeed Giles Thomson of the United Kingdom.

Vivek Aggarwal’s official background

Aggarwal is serving as Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. He has headed India’s delegation to the FATF and has also served as Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit-India.

Important Facts for Exams

• The FATF was created in 1989 and is based in Paris.
• The FATF issues the “grey list” and “black list” for jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering systems.
• The Financial Intelligence Unit-India functions under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
• The Indian Administrative Service is one of the All India Services under Article 312 of the Constitution of India.

India and global financial governance

India has participated in FATF-related processes through its anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing framework. The Ministry of External Affairs has linked Aggarwal’s election with India’s role in global efforts against illicit financial flows.