India’s Vivek Aggarwal becomes first Indian to be appointed FATF vice president

India has secured the vice presidency of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for the first time, marking a major milestone in its role in the global fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

India, which has been a FATF member since 2010, will take up the position after Union Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal was appointed vice president at the conclusion of the organisation’s plenary meeting in Paris.

Aggarwal will succeed UK official Giles Thomson, who has held the post since July 2025. His term as FATF vice president will run from July 2026 to June 2027.

The FATF said members approved the priorities under the incoming UK presidency and appointed Vivek Aggarwal of India as the incoming vice president.

The FATF vice president is elected by the plenary from among member countries and supports the president in guiding the organisation’s work.

Who is Vivek Aggarwal?

Vivek Aggarwal is a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre. He has previously led India’s delegation to the FATF and served as director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

He was serving as an additional secretary in the Union Finance Ministry when India’s latest FATF mutual evaluation report was released in 2024.

In the report, FATF praised India’s anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing framework, saying the country had achieved strong results in implementing measures against illicit financial activities.

Government welcomes appointment

The Ministry of External Affairs called Aggarwal’s election a “major win” for India, saying the role reflects the country’s commitment to tackling terrorist financing networks and strengthening global financial security.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Aggarwal’s experience would help advance FATF’s mission of protecting the international financial system.

The Culture Ministry described the appointment as a “landmark” achievement, saying it reflected India’s growing influence in shaping global policies on emerging risks, including digital payments and virtual assets.

The Finance Ministry also termed it a major recognition of India’s expanding leadership in combating money laundering and terrorist financing.

Aggarwal’s response

Aggarwal said the appointment was a recognition of India’s collective efforts and the strength of its anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing systems.

“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.

Representatives from more than 200 jurisdictions and observers attended the FATF plenary in Paris from June 17-19 to discuss global financial security threats.