Shaktikanta Das
Born 26 February 1957 · Odisha
Serving as the 25th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 2018 to 2023.
🔔 Add birthday reminderShaktikanta Das is an Indian bureaucrat and retired Indian Administrative Service officer who is currently serving as the 14th Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India. He previously served as the 25th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. He was also a member of the Fifteenth Finance Commission and India's Sherpa to the G20.
✨ A detail that surprised us
During the demonetisation in 2016, Shaktikanta Das was the top official coordinating the government's administrative response, a role rarely publicly acknowledged for bureaucrats.
1. 🌍 Born in Bhubaneswar in 1957, Shaktikanta Das earned his MA in History from St. Stephen's College before pivoting to public administration with a postgraduate degree from the University of Birmingham in the 1980s.
2. In 1980, he joined the Indian Administrative Service, Tamil Nadu cadre, quickly holding roles from district magistrate in Dindigul to Special Commissioner of Revenue, mastering ground-level governance.
3. 💰 As Union Revenue Secretary from June 2014 to August 2015, Das was at the helm during the early phases of the Narendra Modi government’s economic reforms, influencing tax and revenue policy.
4. In November 2016, Das played a pivotal administrative role in the demonetisation of ₹500 and ₹1,000 banknotes, coordinating the government’s response to this sudden monetary upheaval.
5. 💹 As Economic Affairs Secretary, he was instrumental in the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax on 1 July 2017, navigating complex central-state negotiations to shape India’s biggest indirect tax reform.
6. 📊 Appointed RBI Governor in December 2018, Das steered the central bank through the COVID-19 crisis by introducing unprecedented liquidity measures and regulatory forbearance to stabilize banks and support the economy.
7. As India’s Sherpa to the G20 in 2017-18, he advocated for a global monetary order addressing inflation and debt distress risks, underscoring India’s role in shaping international economic governance.
8. ❓ How will Shaktikanta Das’s tenure as the longest-serving RBI Governor reshape India’s financial regulatory landscape post-pandemic and beyond?
Awards & Honours
- 🏅--
🔍 One thing most people don't know
In 2016, Das, as the senior official in the Department of Economic Affairs, was a principal coordinator during the demonetisation of ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes, a move that shocked India’s cash economy.
🖼️ Through the Years
📅 The Journey
🗝️ Discoveries
🎥 Speeches & Recordings
Conversation with Shri Shaktikanta Das at Business Today Banking and Economy Summit
YouTube📖 Curated Sources
🌱 What changed because of them
Shaktikanta Das was central to managing some of India’s most challenging economic reforms, including demonetisation and the GST rollout, which redefined tax administration and formalized large parts of the economy. As RBI Governor, his regulatory reforms and crisis management during COVID-19 introduced new frameworks for liquidity and bank supervision, influencing financial stability and governance. His role as G20 Sherpa further positioned India as a key voice in global economic discussions on inflation and debt sustainability.
💬 Social Buzz
🐦
What are people saying about Shaktikanta Das?
Found a post from a historian, journalist or notable voice? Share it here and help tell their story. 🇮🇳