NEW DELHI: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday, just two days before the end of his extended tenure.
The meeting followed the announcement of the bi-monthly monetary policy a day earlier on Friday.
Shaktikanta Das’s current term is set to end on December 10, 2024. While this marks the conclusion of his current five-year tenure (including an extension granted in 2021), there is speculation that his term might be extended further.
If extended…..
If extended, this would be his third term, making him one of the longest-serving RBI Governors since the 1960s.
Currently, there is no indication that a successor has been shortlisted, and the final decision on any extension is expected to come from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO closer to the end of his term​
25th RBI Guv
Das’s extended three-year term, granted in 2021, concludes on December 10. He had initially taken charge as the 25th RBI Governor on December 12, 2018, succeeding Urjit Patel, who resigned abruptly.
On Friday, the RBI maintained a status quo on interest rates for the 11th consecutive time, despite concerns over slowing economic growth, with GDP expanding by just 5.4 per cent in the September quarter.
Defending the decision, Das emphasised the central bank’s statutory flexibility and reiterated its commitment to controlling inflation.
During his six-year tenure, Das has navigated critical challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine conflict, and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. His leadership has earned him global recognition, including being named Central Banker of the Year for two consecutive terms.
