Shaktikanta Das appointed as Principal Secretary-2 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Shaktikanta Das, the former governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has been appointed as the Principal Secretary-2 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The announcement was made through an official circular from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, confirming that Das’ tenure will be co-terminus with the PM’s term or until further orders.

Das, who led the RBI for six years, stepped down in December 2023, with Sanjay Malhotra succeeding him as the 26th governor of the central bank.

Who is Shaktikanta Das?

At 67, Shaktikanta Das is a seasoned bureaucrat with vast experience in economic policy and governance. He took charge as RBI governor in 2018 following the abrupt resignation of Urjit Patel.

A 1980-batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer, Das holds a master’s degree in history from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, and a postgraduate degree in public administration from the University of Birmingham.

During his career, he has held key positions in India’s economic policy framework, including:

• Economic Affairs Secretary (2015-2017)
• Revenue Secretary
• 15th Finance Commission Member
• G20 Sherpa of India

His role in major economic reforms

Das played a crucial role in India’s economic transformation, notably during:

• 2016 Demonetization – As Economic Affairs Secretary, he was instrumental in implementing the sudden scrapping of high-value currency notes.
• GST Implementation (2017) – He was a key figure in merging multiple indirect taxes into a single Goods and Services Tax (GST).
• COVID-19 Economic Management – As RBI governor, he navigated the economy through pandemic-induced disruptions.

With his new position in the Prime Minister’s Office, Das is set to play a pivotal role in shaping India’s financial and administrative policies at the highest level.

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