New Delhi, 22 February 2025 — Shaktikanta Das, former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor, has been appointed as “Principal Secretary-2” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to a central government circular.
“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Shri Shaktikanta Das, IAS (Retired), as Principal Secretary-2 to the Prime Minister with effect from the date he assumes office,” the circular mentioned. His tenure will be “co-terminus” with the prime minister’s term or until further orders.
A Career Spanning Bureaucracy and Banking
Das, 67, stepped down as RBI governor in December after a six-year tenure. He was succeeded by Sanjay Malhotra, who became the central bank’s 26th governor.
A 1980-batch IAS officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre, Das has an extensive career in economic policymaking. He served as economic affairs secretary when the government scrapped high-value currency notes in 2016 and played a significant role in implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017.
During his time at RBI, Das managed financial challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted global supply chains. His tenure was extended for three years in 2021.
Beyond the RBI, Das has held key roles, including Secretary of the Departments of Revenue and Economic Affairs. Post-retirement, he was appointed as a Member of the 15th Finance Commission and served as India’s G20 Sherpa.
