Ex-RBI Guv Shaktikanta Das appointed as Principal Secretary-2 to PM Modi

New Delhi: In a major administrative reshuffle, former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has been appointed as Principal Secretary-2 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The appointment, approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, will be effective from the date he assumes office and will remain co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or until further orders.

Shaktikanta Das, a 1980 batch IAS officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre, previously served as the 25th Governor of the RBI, where he played a crucial role in steering India's monetary policy, managing economic reforms, and navigating the nation through financial uncertainties, including the COVID-19 pandemic. His tenure at the central bank was marked by key decisions on inflation control, interest rate management, and financial sector stability.

His appointment to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is expected to bring in deep expertise in economic policy, fiscal management, and governance. Das’s experience in the Finance Ministry, where he was instrumental in the rollout of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation policies, makes him a strategic choice for the PMO at a time when India is focusing on economic growth and global financial integration.

The order announcing Das’s appointment was issued by Manisha Saxena, Secretary, Appointments Committee of the Cabinet & Establishment Officer, and circulated to all key government officials, including the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, and the Secretaries of all major ministries. The notification ensures that all relevant departments align with the new administrative structure in the PMO.