Poonam Gupta: RBI’s first woman deputy governor in 14 years, eminent economist

Poonam Gupta: RBI’s First Woman Deputy Governor in 14 Years

Key Points:

• Appointment: Poonam Gupta has been appointed Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), succeeding Michael Patra. She is the first female DG in 14 years and the fourth woman ever to hold this position.
• Career & Expertise:
  • Over 20 years of experience in economic research, academics, public advocacy, and policy.
  • Former head of the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER).
  • Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.
  • Former roles include economist positions at the World Bank, IMF European Department, ICRIER, and teaching at Hansraj College, Hindu College, University of Maryland, and Delhi School of Economics.
  • Reserve Bank of India Chair Professor at NIPFP (2011–2013).
• Economic Approach:
  • Considered dovish on monetary policy, supportive of potential rate cuts.
  • Advocates updated CPI basket, better inflation and growth forecasting, and improved monetary policy transmission.
  • Published research on state debt management, recommending revenue mobilisation, digitalisation, debt offices, and fiscal councils.

Significance:

• Marks a historic step for gender representation in India’s central banking.
• Brings global and domestic economic expertise to RBI policy-making and financial governance.
  
  Updated - April 03, 2025 at 10:04 AM | Business Line