Former Reserve Bank governor Shaktikanta Das has been appointed principal secretary -2 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A notification by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Saturday said: "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Shri Shaktikanta Das, IAS (retired), as principal secretary-2 to Prime Minister with effect from the date he assumes the office. His appointment will be co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or until further orders, whichever is earlier."
Das has been a career civil servant with over 42 years of service, primarily in the areas of finance, taxation, investment and infrastructure. He has also served as India's G20 Sherpa and as a member of the 15th Finance Commission.
Shaktikanta Das stepped down as the 25th RBI Governor on December 10. He has been among the longest-serving governors of India's central bank, having taken the post in 2019 following the abrupt departure of his predecessor, Urijit Patel.
One of Das's first actions was to set up a committee under former RBI governor Bimal Jalan to review the central bank’s economic capital framework, which includes the size of capital reserves that RBI should hold. Following the recommendations of the committee, the RBI has been transferring its surplus to the Centre each year.
Das, who served as the RBI Governor from 2018 to 2023, played a pivotal role in navigating India through critical financial challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the country’s subsequent economic recovery. His tenure at the RBI was marked by decisive monetary policies and effective crisis management, earning him widespread acclaim within both government circles and the financial sector.
(By arrangement with livemint.com)
