The government has appointed former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das as the second Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The announcement was made in an official order issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on Saturday. Das, who retired as RBI Governor in December last year, will assume his new role with immediate effect.
His tenure will be co-terminus with that of the Prime Minister or until further orders.
Former IAS officer P K Mishra has been serving as the first Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister since September 2019. With Das’s appointment, Modi will now have two Principal Secretaries managing key administrative and policy matters.
Born on 26 February 1957 in Bhubaneswar, Das pursued his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in history at St Stephen’s College in Delhi.
He joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1980, Tamil Nadu cadre, and held various roles in both the state and central governments over his career.
Das was appointed as the 25th Governor of the RBI in December 2018, taking charge at a critical time marked by economic challenges and financial sector instability.
His tenure is credited with stabilising India’s economy, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical uncertainties and periods of high inflation.
His leadership at the RBI earned him widespread recognition for his handling of monetary policy and financial regulations.
Following his retirement in December 2024, Das was succeeded by Sanjay Malhotra, a former IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre who previously served as the Revenue Secretary in the Finance Ministry.
Apart from his contributions to economic governance, Das was honoured with a Doctor of Letters (D Litt) by Utkal University in 2021 for his service in public administration.
His vast experience in financial and policy matters is expected to play a significant role in shaping the Prime Minister’s administrative framework.
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