NEW DELHI: Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has been appointed as the Principal Secretary-2 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His tenure will be co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Dasโ appointment, with an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
He will serve alongside Pramod Kumar Mishra, who has been the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister since September 11, 2019.
A seasoned bureaucrat with over four decades of experience, Das has held key positions in both central and state governments.
He has served as the Secretary in the Department of Revenue and the Department of Economic Affairs, and was also a member of the 15th Finance Commission.
Additionally, he has represented India in global financial institutions, including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the New Development Bank (NDB), and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
He has also served as Indiaโs G20 Sherpa and represented the country in international forums like the IMF, G20, BRICS, and SAARC.
Das was appointed as the 25th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India on December 12, 2018, and served for six years, leading the central bank through significant challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic uncertainties, including the Russia-Ukraine war.
Under his leadership, the RBI introduced various monetary and regulatory measures to stabilize the economy.
His performance as RBI Governor earned him global recognition, with the US-based magazine Global Finance ranking him among the top three central bankers worldwide for two consecutive years.
In the Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2024, he received an โA+โ rating.
Das holds a postgraduate degree from St. Stephenโs College, Delhi University, and has an extensive background in financial and economic policymaking.
His appointment as Principal Secretary-2 marks another significant role in his distinguished career.
In a related development, the government has also extended the tenure of NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam by a year, starting February 24, 2025. A retired IAS officer from the 1987 batch, Subrahmanyam was appointed to the position in February 2023 for a two-year term.
