Subhash Chandra Garg, an Indian Administrative Service officer, was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs in the Union Finance Ministry; in this context, who was named as the new economic affairs secretary in the Union Government?

Introduction / Context:
The post of Economic Affairs Secretary in the Union Finance Ministry is a key position in India's economic administration, responsible for areas such as budget preparation, macroeconomic policy, and coordination with international financial institutions. This question asks you to identify the individual who was appointed as the new economic affairs secretary, a fact that was widely reported at the time and often appears in current affairs based general knowledge questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question mentions the appointment of a new economic affairs secretary in the Union Finance Ministry.
• The options are N. K. Sinha, Tapan Ray, Subhash C. Garg, and Kirti Singh.
• We assume the context of the appointment of Subhash Chandra Garg as Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs.
• The focus is on identifying the correct name among the options.

Concept / Approach:
Subhash Chandra Garg is a senior Indian Administrative Service officer who has held several important positions in the Government of India and in international institutions. In 2017, he was appointed as the Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, in the Union Finance Ministry, succeeding a previous office holder. When this kind of appointment is asked about in an exam, the expected answer is usually the name of the newly appointed official, which in this case is Subhash C. Garg.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the media reports and government press releases announcing the appointment of Subhash Chandra Garg as Economic Affairs Secretary.Step 2: Recognise that this question is directly referencing that event by talking about the new economic affairs secretary in the Union Finance Ministry.Step 3: Compare the names in the options: N. K. Sinha, Tapan Ray, Subhash C. Garg, and Kirti Singh.Step 4: Identify Subhash C. Garg as the IAS officer associated with the Economic Affairs Secretary post in that period.Step 5: Select 'Subhash C. Garg' as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Press releases from the Government of India and reliable news sources reported that Subhash Chandra Garg assumed office as Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, in July 2017. Other names in the options either correspond to different offices or are not associated with this particular appointment. Cross-checking in current affairs compilations or official notifications confirms that Subhash C. Garg is the correct person referenced in this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• N. K. Sinha: An official associated with other roles, not with the specific appointment as Economic Affairs Secretary in this context.
• Tapan Ray: A senior bureaucrat, but not the one referred to in the question as the new economic affairs secretary at that time.
• Kirti Singh: This name does not correspond to the well-known appointment for the Economic Affairs Secretary post in the Union Finance Ministry.

Common Pitfalls:
The key challenge in such questions is remembering names correctly and not confusing them with other bureaucrats or ministers. Candidates often mix up individuals who serve in related economic or financial positions. To avoid this, it helps to connect specific names with specific offices and significant events, such as major budget announcements or policy changes, thereby reinforcing memory through context.

Final Answer:
The official who was appointed as the new economic affairs secretary in the Union Finance Ministry was Subhash C. Garg.