Rajiv Kumar (economist): Difference between revisions

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| nationality        = [[India]]n
| nationality        = [[India]]n
| profession          = [[Economist]]
| profession          = [[Economist]]
| alma_mater          = [[Delhi University]] ([[B.A.|BA]])<br>[[University of Lucknow]] ([[PhD]])<br>[[University of Oxford]] ([[DPhil]])
| alma_mater          = [[Delhi University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[University of Lucknow]] ([[PhD]])<br />[[University of Oxford]] ([[DPhil]])
| office3            = Chief Economist of [[Confederation of Indian Industry]]
| office3            = Chief Economist of [[Confederation of Indian Industry]]
| term3              = 2004 – 2006
| term3              = 2004 – 2006
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| predecessor        = [[Arvind Panagariya]]
| predecessor        = [[Arvind Panagariya]]
| termstart          = 1 September 2017
| termstart          = 1 September 2017
| termend            =  
| termend            = 30 April 2022
| prime minister      = [[Narendra Modi]]
| successor          = [[Suman Bery]]
| office6            = Chancellor of [[Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics]]
}}
}}


'''Rajiv Kumar''' (born 6 July 1951) is an [[India|Indian]] [[economist]] and is currently the [[NITI Aayog|vice-chairman of the NITI Aayog]], in the rank and status of a [[Cabinet Minister]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/niti-s-new-v-c-rajiv-kumar-a-homegrown-economist-who-keeps-a-low-profile-117080600281_1.html|title=NITI's new V-C Rajiv Kumar: A homegrown economist who keeps a low profile|first=Arup|last=Roychoudhury|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=6 August 2017|publisher=|via=Business Standard}}</ref> He also serves as the Chancellor of [[Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics|Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune]]<ref>{{cite web |title=gipe.ac.in – Gokhale Institute Of Politics & Economics |url=http://gipe.ac.in/ |website=gipe.ac.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rajiv Kumar appointed first-ever chancellor of gokhale institute |url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/others/rajiv-kumar-appointed-first-ever-chancellor-of-gokhale-institute/articleshow/40318972.cms |website=Pune Mirror |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/economist-rajiv-kumar-to-head-niti-aayog-4784379/|title=Economist Rajiv Kumar to head NITI Aayog|date=6 August 2017|publisher=}}</ref><ref name="cprindia.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.cprindia.org/people/rajiv-kumar|title=Rajiv Kumar - Centre for Policy Research|website=www.cprindia.org}}</ref> His earlier stint in Government was initially with the [[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)|Ministry of Industry]] and subsequently in the [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Ministry of Finance]], as Economic Advisor during the reform years of 1991-1994. He also served as an independent director on the Central Boards of the [[Reserve Bank of India]] and the [[State Bank of India]]. He has wide experience of having worked in government, academia, industry associations, as well as in international financial institutions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Government of India, Ministry of Finance |url=https://financialservices.gov.in/sites/default/files/1102016-BO.I.pdf |website=financialservices.gov.in}}</ref>
'''Rajiv Kumar''' (born 6 July 1951) is an Indian [[economist]] who had served as the second [[NITI Aayog|vice-chairman of the NITI Aayog]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/niti-s-new-v-c-rajiv-kumar-a-homegrown-economist-who-keeps-a-low-profile-117080600281_1.html|title=NITI's new V-C Rajiv Kumar: A homegrown economist who keeps a low profile|first=Arup|last=Roychoudhury|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=6 August 2017|publisher=|via=Business Standard}}</ref> He also served as the chancellor of [[Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics|Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune]].<ref>{{cite web |title=gipe.ac.in – Gokhale Institute Of Politics & Economics |url=http://gipe.ac.in/ |website=gipe.ac.in}}</ref><ref name="cprindia.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.cprindia.org/people/rajiv-kumar|title=Rajiv Kumar - Centre for Policy Research|website=www.cprindia.org}}</ref> His earlier stint in government was initially with the [[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)|Ministry of Industry]] and subsequently in the [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Ministry of Finance]], as economic advisor during the reform years of 1991-1994. He has wide experience of having worked in government, academia, industry associations, as well as in international financial institutions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Government of India, Ministry of Finance |url=https://financialservices.gov.in/sites/default/files/1102016-BO.I.pdf |website=financialservices.gov.in}}</ref> He also served as an independent director on the central boards of the [[Reserve Bank of India]] and the [[State Bank of India]].


Kumar is the writer of several books on India’s economy and national security.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ideasforindia.in/Article.aspx?article_id=1690|title=Modi and his challenges: Leading India on its march to prosperity|website=www.ideasforindia.in}}</ref> He is an economic columnist for major Indian publications and is a speaker on the Indian political economy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pahleindia.org/Directors.php|title=Directors|website=pahleindia.org}}</ref>
Kumar is the writer of several books on India's economy and national security.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ideasforindia.in/Article.aspx?article_id=1690|title=Modi and his challenges: Leading India on its march to prosperity|website=www.ideasforindia.in}}</ref> He is an economic columnist for major Indian publications and is a speaker on the Indian political economy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pahleindia.org/Directors.php|title=Directors|website=pahleindia.org}}</ref>


== Early life and education ==
== Early life and education ==
Kumar holds a Ph.D. from the [[Lucknow University]], which he received in 1978 and a D.Phil. in Economics from [[University of Oxford|Oxford University]] which he received in 1981. He has Bachelor's Degree from [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi|St. Stephen college]], [[University of Delhi|Delhi University]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/looking-forward-to-serve-the-nation-niti-vicechair-rajiv-kumar/article9804575.ece|title=Looking forward to serve the nation: Niti Vice-Chair Rajiv Kumar|publisher=}}</ref>
He studied at [[Modern School (New Delhi)|Modern School]], Delhi; [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi|St. Stephen’s College]], [[Delhi University]]; and [[Canning College, Lucknow|Canning College]], [[University of Lucknow|Lucknow University]], from where he received his [[PhD|Ph.D]] in 1978. He later attended [[New College, Oxford|New College]], [[University of Oxford|Oxford University]], earning his [[Doctor of Philosophy|D.Phil]] in Economics in 1982.


== Career ==
== Career ==
[[File:P._K._Misra,_IAS_with_Dr._Rajiv_Kumar_and_Mamoru_Maekawa.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|300x300px|Rajiv Kumar (centre) with [[Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India#Additional principal secretary|Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister]], [[Pramod Kumar Misra|P. K. Misra]], [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]] (right) and a Japanese vice-minister incharge of policy coordination in [[Cabinet Office (Japan)|Cabinet Office]], Mamoru Maekawa (left) at a meet in [[New Delhi]] in March 2018.]]
[[File:P._K._Misra,_IAS_with_Dr._Rajiv_Kumar_and_Mamoru_Maekawa.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|300x300px|Rajiv Kumar (centre) with [[Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India#Additional principal secretary|Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister]], [[Pramod Kumar Misra|P. K. Misra]], [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]] (right) and a Japanese vice-minister incharge of policy coordination in [[Cabinet Office (Japan)|Cabinet Office]], Mamoru Maekawa (left) at a meet in [[New Delhi]] in March 2018.]]


Kumar was appointed Senior Research Program Officer, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) in Delhi in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/rajiv-kumar-succeeds-panagariya-as-new-vice-chairman-of-niti-aayog-1502166076-1|title=Rajiv Kumar succeeds Panagariya as new Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog|date=8 August 2017|publisher=}}</ref><ref>http://www.ideasforindia.in/profile.aspx?id=604</ref> He returned to ICRIER as the Director and Chief Executive in Feb 2006 and continued to be until August 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/economist-rajiv-kumar-replaces-arvind-panagariya-as-new-niti-aayog-vice-chairman-4784042/|title=Economist Rajiv Kumar replaces Arvind Panagariya as new NITI Aayog vice-chairman|date=5 August 2017|publisher=}}</ref> He was a professor in [[Indian Institute of Foreign Trade]] (IIFT) from 1987 to 1989.
Kumar was appointed senior research program officer, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) in Delhi in 1982.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/rajiv-kumar-succeeds-panagariya-as-new-vice-chairman-of-niti-aayog-1502166076-1|title=Rajiv Kumar succeeds Panagariya as new Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog|newspaper=Jagranjosh.com |date=8 August 2017|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ideasforindia.in/profile.aspx?id=604 |title=Archived copy |access-date=19 February 2018 |archive-date=5 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305202846/http://www.ideasforindia.in/profile.aspx?id=604 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


He was appointed as the Senior Consultant, Bureau of Costs and Prices and served the [[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)|Ministry of Industry, Government of India]] from 1989 to 1991. He served as the Economic Advisor in the Department of Economic Affairs, [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Ministry of Finance, Government of India]], from 1992 to 1995. In 1995, he joined the [[Asian Development Bank]] in Manila as a Principal Economist, where he served until 2005.<ref name="cprindia.org"/> He worked for the [[Confederation of Indian Industry|Confederation of India Industries]] as the Chief Economist for 2 years from 2004 – 2006.<ref name="cprindia.org"/> He was the Secretary General at the [[Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry|FICCI]] from 2010 to 2012.<ref name="cprindia.org"/> He became a senior fellow at the [[Centre for Policy Research]], Delhi from 2013 until January 2017.<ref name="cprindia.org"/>
He was a professor in [[Indian Institute of Foreign Trade]] (IIFT) from 1987 to 1989.
 
He was then appointed as the Senior Consultant, Bureau of Costs and Prices at the [[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)|Ministry of Industry, Government of India]] from 1989 to 1991. He served as the Economic Advisor in the Department of Economic Affairs, [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Ministry of Finance, Government of India]], from 1992 to 1995.
 
In 1995, he joined the [[Asian Development Bank]] in [[Manila]], [[Philippines]] as a Principal Economist, where he served until 2005.<ref name="cprindia.org" />
 
He was the Chief Economist for [[Confederation of Indian Industry|Confederation of India Industries]] for 2 years from 2004 – 2006.<ref name="cprindia.org" />
 
He returned to ICRIER as the director and Chief Executive in Feb 2006 and continued to be until August 2010.<ref>{{cite web |date=5 August 2017 |title=Economist Rajiv Kumar replaces Arvind Panagariya as new NITI Aayog vice-chairman |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/economist-rajiv-kumar-replaces-arvind-panagariya-as-new-niti-aayog-vice-chairman-4784042/ |publisher=}}</ref>
 
He was the Secretary General at the [[Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry|FICCI]] from 2010 to 2012.<ref name="cprindia.org" />
 
He became a senior fellow at the [[Centre for Policy Research]], Delhi from 2013 until January 2017.<ref name="cprindia.org" />
 
In 2017, he was appointed as the vice chairman of [[NITI Aayog]] -Government of India's apex [[think tank]], with the rank of a Cabinet Minister. He was also the chairman of the [[Atal Innovation Mission]] with its mandate to establish an innovative eco-system in the country. He served in NITI Aayog until 2022.
 
He also served as an independent director on the Central Boards of the [[Reserve Bank of India]] and the [[State Bank of India]].
 
He is the founding director and Chairman of Pahle India Foundation - a public policy think tank facilitating policy change in India based in [[New Delhi]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pahleindia.org/Team.php |archive-date=Jan 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124211834/http://www.pahleindia.org/team.php |website=pahleindia.org |language=en |access-date=14 August 2023 |title=Directors}}</ref>
 
== Honours ==
Kumar was conferred the [[Order of the Rising Sun]], Gold and Silver Star of [[Japan]] on 29 April 2023<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/11_000001_00972.html|title=2023 Spring Conferment of Decorations (English)|date=2023-04-29|access-date=2023-06-06|website=www.in.emb-japan.go.jp}}</ref> as a part of the 2023 Spring Conferment of Decorations. He was conferred the order in recognition of his contributions to strengthening the economic relations between Japan and India.


== Bibliography ==
== Bibliography ==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar, Rajiv}}
[[Category:Indian economists]]
[[Category:St. Stephen's College, Delhi alumni]]
[[Category:St. Stephen's College, Delhi alumni]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford]]
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[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of Delhi alumni]]
[[Category:Delhi University alumni]]

Latest revision as of 03:17, 22 November 2025


Rajiv Kumar
2nd Vice-chairman of NITI Aayog
In office
1 September 2017 – 30 April 2022
Preceded byArvind Panagariya
Succeeded bySuman Bery
Secretary General of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry
In office
2010 – 2012
Director and Chief Executive of Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations
In office
2006 – 2010
Chief Economist of Confederation of Indian Industry
In office
2004 – 2006
Principal Economist of Asian Development Bank
In office
1995 – 2005
Senior Consultant of Ministry of Industries and Ministry of Finance, Government of India
In office
1989 – 1991
Personal details
Born (1951-07-06) 6 July 1951 (age 75)
NationalityIndian
Alma materDelhi University (BA)
University of Lucknow (PhD)
University of Oxford (DPhil)
ProfessionEconomist

Rajiv Kumar (born 6 July 1951) is an Indian economist who had served as the second vice-chairman of the NITI Aayog.[1] He also served as the chancellor of Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune.[2][3] His earlier stint in government was initially with the Ministry of Industry and subsequently in the Ministry of Finance, as economic advisor during the reform years of 1991-1994. He has wide experience of having worked in government, academia, industry associations, as well as in international financial institutions.[4] He also served as an independent director on the central boards of the Reserve Bank of India and the State Bank of India.

Kumar is the writer of several books on India's economy and national security.[5] He is an economic columnist for major Indian publications and is a speaker on the Indian political economy.[6]

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

He studied at Modern School, Delhi; St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University; and Canning College, Lucknow University, from where he received his Ph.D in 1978. He later attended New College, Oxford University, earning his D.Phil in Economics in 1982.

Career[edit | edit source]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Rajiv Kumar (centre) with Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, P. K. Misra, IAS (right) and a Japanese vice-minister incharge of policy coordination in Cabinet Office, Mamoru Maekawa (left) at a meet in New Delhi in March 2018.

Kumar was appointed senior research program officer, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) in Delhi in 1982.[7][8]

He was a professor in Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) from 1987 to 1989.

He was then appointed as the Senior Consultant, Bureau of Costs and Prices at the Ministry of Industry, Government of India from 1989 to 1991. He served as the Economic Advisor in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, from 1992 to 1995.

In 1995, he joined the Asian Development Bank in Manila, Philippines as a Principal Economist, where he served until 2005.[3]

He was the Chief Economist for Confederation of India Industries for 2 years from 2004 – 2006.[3]

He returned to ICRIER as the director and Chief Executive in Feb 2006 and continued to be until August 2010.[9]

He was the Secretary General at the FICCI from 2010 to 2012.[3]

He became a senior fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, Delhi from 2013 until January 2017.[3]

In 2017, he was appointed as the vice chairman of NITI Aayog -Government of India's apex think tank, with the rank of a Cabinet Minister. He was also the chairman of the Atal Innovation Mission with its mandate to establish an innovative eco-system in the country. He served in NITI Aayog until 2022.

He also served as an independent director on the Central Boards of the Reserve Bank of India and the State Bank of India.

He is the founding director and Chairman of Pahle India Foundation - a public policy think tank facilitating policy change in India based in New Delhi.[10]

Honours[edit | edit source]

Kumar was conferred the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star of Japan on 29 April 2023[11] as a part of the 2023 Spring Conferment of Decorations. He was conferred the order in recognition of his contributions to strengthening the economic relations between Japan and India.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

  • Kumar, Rajiv (2016). Modi and His Challenges. New Delhi. ISBN 978-9384898342. OCLC 951840612.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Agarwala, Ramgopal; Kumar, Rajiv; Shah, Rajesh (2015). Resurgent India: Ideas and Priorities. New Delhi. ISBN 9789332701632. OCLC 914465376.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Kumar, Rajiv (2014). Exploding Aspirations: Unlocking India's Future. New Delhi. ISBN 9789332701540. OCLC 889174707.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Roychoudhury, Arup (6 August 2017). "NITI's new V-C Rajiv Kumar: A homegrown economist who keeps a low profile". Business Standard India – via Business Standard.
  2. "gipe.ac.in – Gokhale Institute Of Politics & Economics". gipe.ac.in.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Rajiv Kumar - Centre for Policy Research". www.cprindia.org.
  4. "Government of India, Ministry of Finance" (PDF). financialservices.gov.in.
  5. "Modi and his challenges: Leading India on its march to prosperity". www.ideasforindia.in.
  6. "Directors". pahleindia.org.
  7. "Rajiv Kumar succeeds Panagariya as new Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog". Jagranjosh.com. 8 August 2017.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 March 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Economist Rajiv Kumar replaces Arvind Panagariya as new NITI Aayog vice-chairman". 5 August 2017.
  10. "Directors". pahleindia.org. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  11. "2023 Spring Conferment of Decorations (English)". www.in.emb-japan.go.jp. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.

External links[edit | edit source]