The government on Tuesday cleared the appointment of Ashok Jha, a 1969 batch IAS officer from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, as secretary, economic affairs, in the ministry of finance.

Jha, who was posted as secretary, department of industrial policy and promotion, replaces Rakesh Mohan who heads back to the Reserve Bank of India as deputy governor after an eight-month-stint in North Block.

The government has, however, decided against appointing a finance secretary as both Expenditure Secretary Adarsh Kishore and Jha belong to the 1969 batch.  He had earlier served as an adviser in the finance ministry in 2002.