The process for appointing a new RBI Deputy Governor is gathering momentum with the interviews being conducted by a selection panel headed by Cabinet secretary TV Somanathan. Two rounds of interviews to find a suitable replacement of Michael Patra, who retired from the post on Jan 15, have already taken place.
A six-member selection panel — which includes RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra and Somanathan — held the first round of interviews on January 13 in New Delhi and held another on Wednesday.
Interestingly, Chief economic adviser (CEA) V Anantha Nageswaran and 16th Finance Commission secretary Ritvik Pandey were among the high-profile candidates interviewed on Wednesday by the selection panel.
According to insiders, what bears significance is the fact that Nageswaran was called for the interview by the panel, though he is understood to have not applied for the post. This development is considered crucial.
According to sources, apart from others, those being considered include Poonam Gupta, a former World Bank economist and part-time member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council; Chetan Ghate, former external member on the RBI’s monetary policy committee; Prachi Mishra, director and head of the Isaac Centre for Public Policy at Ashoka University; economist Ajit Ranade; and NR Bhanumurthy, director at Madras School of Economics.
Also Read: RBI reshuffles Deputy Governors’ portfolios after Michael Patra’s term ends
