Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has emerged as one of the most prominent names in speculation surrounding a possible reshuffle of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Union Cabinet, with political buzz suggesting he could be entrusted with a key portfolio.
While some reports have linked Das to the Finance Ministry, other reports indicate that he could be considered for a major responsibility in the government, not necessarily limited to the finance portfolio. There has been no official confirmation from the government on any such move.
Speculation over a Cabinet reshuffle has intensified following recent meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu, and between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the President. According to reports citing sources, the reshuffle could take place ahead of the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Das, who currently serves as the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, is among the senior administrators whose names have figured prominently in discussions. Some reports have suggested he could replace Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, with the latter possibly moving to the Education Ministry.
If inducted into the Cabinet, Das would bring more than four decades of administrative experience spanning public finance, economic policy, taxation, infrastructure and governance. He served as the 25th Governor of the RBI from December 2018 to December 2024, steering India's monetary policy through one of the most challenging periods in recent history.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Das led the central bank's response through a series of liquidity measures, regulatory support and monetary policy interventions aimed at stabilising financial markets and supporting economic recovery. His tenure was also marked by efforts to balance inflation management with growth concerns amid global economic uncertainty.
Before heading the RBI, Das served as a member of the 15th Finance Commission and as India's G20 Sherpa. A career bureaucrat from the 1980 batch of the Tamil Nadu cadre of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), he has held several key positions in both the Union and state governments.
A postgraduate from St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, Das has also served as India's Alternate Governor to the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the New Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He has represented India at major international forums, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), G20, BRICS and SAARC. |
