Shaktikanta Das Appointed Principal Secretary to PM Narendra Modi

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Former Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das has been appointed Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a government notification said. The appointments committee of the cabinet said Mr Das' appointment will be co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or until further orders, whichever is earlier. This move comes after Das finished his second term at the helm of the Reserve Bank of India in December last year, where he oversaw monetary policy, debt and forex markets, along with financial sector regulation for six years.

Das, a former bureaucrat, became the first non-economist in nearly three decades to head India’s central bank in 2018. During his tenure as economic affairs secretary in 2016, the Modi government had announced the demonetisation drive. Das had defended the government’s decision at that time, explaining notifications and frequent changes in rules on demonetisation to the general public. He was also instrumental in the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST). As RBI Governor during the COVID-19 pandemic, he spearheaded a series of measures to support growth and strengthen India's financial stability.

Das has vast experience in various areas of governance in four decades. He has held important positions in the central and state governments in the areas of finance, taxation, industries, infrastructure, etc. He served as a member of 15th Finance Commission and G20 Sherpa and held important positions in the central and state governments in the areas of finance and taxation. The tenure of the government think tank NITI Aayog's CEO BVR Subrahmanyam has also been extended by a year, beginning February 24, 2025.

Here are the key points of Shaktikanta Das' career: * Served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India for six years * Held key roles in economic policy, including his tenure as Secretary of Economic Affairs in 2017 * Played a role in the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax * Involved in the government's response to the demonetisation policy * Represented India at international forums, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the G-20, and BRICS * Born in 1957 in Odisha, Das studied history at St Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and later earned a Master’s degree in public administration from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom

Das will be the second principal secretary. At present, former IAS officer P.K. Mishra is serving as the first principal secretary to the Prime Minister since September 11, 2019. The appointment of Shaktikanta Das as Principal Secretary to PM Modi is seen as a significant move, given his experience and expertise in the field of finance and economics. His tenure as RBI Governor was marked by several significant events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of GST. With his appointment as Principal Secretary, he is expected to play a key role in shaping the government's economic policies and decisions.