“Revive the animal spirit in the country’s economy and reverse the climate of pessimism.” That was the first message from the new boss at the Finance Ministry to the five Secretaries who manage the gigantic task of running India’s finances. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, formally took charge of the Finance Portfolio for the second time in eight years on Wednesday, after the President, Ms Pratibha Patil, accepted the resignation of Mr Pranab Mukherjee as Finance Minister.