Celebrating Shaktikanta Das: A Look at the Life of Former RBI Governor on His 69th Birthday
Today marks the 69th birthday of Shaktikanta Das, the former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. Known for his significant contributions during demonetization and the implementation of GST, Das has held various prestigious positions in the Indian government. Born in Odisha and educated at St. Stephen's College and the University of Birmingham, he has a rich background as an IAS officer. His tenure as RBI Governor has been marked by key economic reforms and representation on international platforms. Discover more about his life and achievements in this article.
| Feb 26, 2026, 11:22 IST
A Milestone Birthday
Shaktikanta Das, the former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, is celebrating his 69th birthday today, February 26. As the 25th Governor of RBI, he achieved numerous milestones and held several significant positions throughout his career. He played a crucial role during the demonetization process and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Additionally, Das has represented India on various international platforms and is considered one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's favored officials. Let's explore some intriguing aspects of Shaktikanta Das's life on this special occasion.
Early Life and Education
Born on February 26, 1957, in Odisha, Shaktikanta Das completed his graduation in History from St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi. He further pursued a postgraduate degree from the same institution and also earned a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Birmingham in the UK.
Career as an IAS Officer
Shaktikanta Das, an MA graduate in History, served as an IAS officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre. He has held various positions in both the Government of India and the Tamil Nadu government. His roles included Joint Secretary for Budget in the Department of Economic Affairs at the Finance Ministry, Secretary in the Industries Department of Tamil Nadu, and Commissioner in the Revenue Department of Tamil Nadu, among others.
In 2008, Das was appointed as Joint Secretary in the Finance Ministry during P. Chidambaram's tenure as Finance Minister. Later, in 2014, he became Secretary in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. From 2015 to 2017, he served as Secretary for Economic Affairs in the Finance Ministry under Arun Jaitley.
Tenure as RBI Governor
In 2018, Shaktikanta Das was appointed as the 25th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, succeeding Urjit Patel. His term was initially set to end in December 2021, but the government extended it for an additional three years, allowing him to serve until December 2024. He has also been a member of the Finance Commission and represented India as Sherpa at the G20 in 2017.
Key Contributions
Following the demonetization in November 2016, Shaktikanta Das frequently appeared at press conferences as the Secretary for Economic Affairs. He played a pivotal role in the rollout of GST as well. Das is multilingual, fluent in Tamil, Odia, Hindi, and English.