Former RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das appointed 'second' Principal Secretary to PM Modi

 Former RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das appointed Principal Secretary to PM

Former IAS officer PK Mishra is currently serving as the first Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister since September 11, 2019. Former RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das will now serve as the second Principal Secretary.

The government on Saturday appointed former RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das as the Principal Secretary-2 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

In an order, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet said the 67-year-old's appointment, which came after he retired as RBI Governor in December last year, will be effective from the day he assumes office.

The duration of Das's tenure will be co-terminus with that of the Prime Minister or until further orders, according to the order.  

Born on February 26, 1957, in Bhubaneswar, Das completed his Bachelor's and Master's in history from Delhi's St Stephen's College. A former IAS officer of the 1980-batch Tamil Nadu cadre, he served in various roles in the Tamil Nadu and central governments.

Das took over as the 25th RBI Governor in December 2018, during a challenging time marked by economic and financial sector pressures. His leadership is widely recognised for bringing stability and steering India's economy through turbulent periods, including the Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions and high inflation.

He retired in December last year and was succeeded by Sanjay Malhotra, a former IAS officer of the 1990-batch Rajasthan cadre, who served as secretary (revenue) in the Finance Ministry.

The PMO has now gone for two principal secretaries instead of appointing an additional principal secretary. Sources said that Shaktikanta Das’s last posting as RBI governor may have prompted the move. 

At 67 years of age, he is almost nine years younger than P K Mishra.