Shaktikanta Das, Economist, Central Banker
Economist, Central Banker

Shaktikanta Das

Born 26 February 1957 · Odisha

Serving as the 25th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 2018 to 2023.

Shaktikanta 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.

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A detail that
surprised us

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During the demonetisation in 2016, Shaktikanta Das was the top official coordinating the government's administrative response, a role rarely publicly acknowledged for bureaucrats.

The Story

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.
4In 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.

🏅 Awards & Honours

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🔍 One thing most people don't know

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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

2 photographs from the archives
Shaktikanta Das attending the Fifteenth Finance Commission meeting in 2017.
Shaktikanta Das attending the Fifteenth Finance Commission meeting in 2017.
2017
Shaktikanta Das meeting a delegation of senior Chinese journalists in New Delhi in 2017.

🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Born in Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Shaktikanta Das was born in Bhubaneswar, setting the stage for his later contributions to Indian economic administration.
1957
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Career
Joined Indian Administrative Service
Das joined the IAS in the Tamil Nadu cadre, beginning a diverse administrative career across districts and departments.
1980
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Career
Became Union Revenue Secretary
Appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Das took charge during a critical period of economic reform under PM Modi.
2014
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Career
Coordinated demonetisation response
Das was a senior official managing the government’s administrative response to the sudden demonetisation of ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes.
2016
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Career
GST implementation
Das helped draw up legislation and coordinate states for the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax, revolutionizing indirect taxes.
2017
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Career
Became India's G20 Sherpa
Das represented India at the G20, engaging in global economic policy discussions amid rising inflation and debt risks.
2017
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Career
Appointed RBI Governor
Das took office as the 25th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, soon facing the COVID-19 crisis.
2018
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Career
Led RBI through COVID-19 crisis
Das introduced liquidity measures and regulatory forbearances to stabilize the financial sector during the pandemic.
2020
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Das completed mid-career training at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, an uncommon credential for an IAS officer focused on economic affairs.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

As RBI Governor, he introduced a ‘College of Supervisors’ to train the next generation of bank regulators, a novel institutional innovation in Indian banking supervision.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

During COVID-19, Das allowed banks to restructure loans only if they soured after the pandemic began, imposing strict sunset clauses on regulatory forbearance.

No quote recorded for Shaktikanta Das yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Conversation with Shri Shaktikanta Das at Business Today Banking and Economy Summit
More from this archive
Conversation with Shri Shaktikanta Das at Business Today Banking and Economy Summit
01
Conversation with Shri Shaktikanta Das at Business Today Banking and Economy Summit
Financial inclusion is crucial for sustainable economic growth: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das
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Financial inclusion is crucial for sustainable economic growth: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das
India’s Central Bank Holding Key Rate Steady: Governor
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India’s Central Bank Holding Key Rate Steady: Governor
India at Doorstep of Economic Revival says RBI Governor Das | Hybiz Tv
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India at Doorstep of Economic Revival says RBI Governor Das | Hybiz Tv
Interest-Rate Stance Now Depends On Data, Says Shaktikanta Das: Bloomberg Exclusive
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Interest-Rate Stance Now Depends On Data, Says Shaktikanta Das: Bloomberg Exclusive
Economic Affairs Secretary On GST, Digital Economy And Demonetisation
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Economic Affairs Secretary On GST, Digital Economy And Demonetisation
17th K P Hormis Commemorative Lecture by Governor Shri Shaktikanta Das
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17th K P Hormis Commemorative Lecture by Governor Shri Shaktikanta Das
Media interaction on RBI’s Monetary Policy by Shri Shaktikanta Das, Governor, Reserve Bank of India
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Media interaction on RBI’s Monetary Policy by Shri Shaktikanta Das, Governor, Reserve Bank of India
Monetary Policy Statement by Shri Shaktikanta Das, RBI Governor - April 06, 2023
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Monetary Policy Statement by Shri Shaktikanta Das, RBI Governor - April 06, 2023
SHAKTI KANTA DAS FROM ODISHA BECOME RBI GOVERNOR
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SHAKTI KANTA DAS FROM ODISHA BECOME RBI GOVERNOR

🌱 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

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