India's Vivek Aggarwal appointed FATF vice president, a first for the country

India's Vivek Aggarwal, a 1994-batch IAS officer, has been appointed vice president of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), marking a historic first for the country. The global body sets standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Aggarwal, who previously headed India's delegation to the FATF and directed the Financial Intelligence Unit, will serve from July 2026 to June 2027.

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Members approved the Priorities of the FATF under the incoming UK Presidency, and appointed Mr Vivek Aggarwal of India as the incoming Vice-President of the FATF (July 2026-June 2027).

The appointment, made at the FATF plenary meeting in Paris, is considered a major win for India. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the leadership role reinforces India's commitment to combating global terrorist financing networks and dismantling illicit financial systems. He highlighted Aggarwal's expertise in advancing the organization's mandate to secure financial integrity.

The Union Culture Ministry described the appointment as "landmark," reflecting the trust and credibility India has built across more than 200 jurisdictions. The ministry emphasized India's proactive role in shaping global policy on emerging risks like digital payments and virtual assets, underscoring the global community's faith in India's institutional strength and commitment to international financial integrity.

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As India continues to champion a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, this leadership role reinforces our relentless focus on combating global terrorist financing networks and dismantling illicit financial systems.

The FATF lauded India's measures to tackle illicit finance in a 2024 report, noting that its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework is achieving good results. This recognition, coupled with Aggarwal's vice presidency, signifies India's increasing influence on the international stage in financial crime prevention.

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It reflects the immense trust and credibility India has built across more than 200 jurisdictions, highlighting the nation's proactive role in shaping global policy on emerging risks like digital payments and virtual assets. This achievement underscores the global community's faith in India's institutional strength and shared commitment to international financial integrity.