New Delhi, Oct 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi appointed US-based economist Arvind Subramanian as the chief economic adviser (CEA) and shunted out Finance Secretary Arvind Mayaram, signalling the government’s intention that it may finally push for big ticket reforms in the next Budget.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Modi, cleared the changes late on Wednesday night.
Mayaram, who will take charge of the Tourism Ministry, will be replaced by Rajasthan Chief Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who has overseen radical changes, particularly in the area of free-market labour, land and welfare reforms in the state. Mayaram and Mehrishi, who is also one of the officers being considered for the post of the Cabinet Secretary, are 1978-batch IAS officers from the Rajasthan cadre.
Mayaram’s transfer was part of the first major shuffle of top civil servants since the NDA came to power.
The timing is significant as the Prime Minister's Office and the Finance Ministry have just begun work on the first full-fledged Budget of the NDA government.
Subramanian, who has been publicly critical of the NDA government for not doing enough to kick-start the economy, took charge as the CEA in North Block on Thursday.
The CEA is responsible for producing the Economic Survey, a document on the state of the economy that provides the base for drafting of the budget. He also brings out a mid-year economic update that is presented to Parliament.
Subramanian told the media that his focus will be on growth, investments and providing equitable growth for all Indians. “It is an honour and privilege to serve the government that has a mandate for reform and change,” he said.
An economist of international repute, Subramanian has closely worked with Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan during his stint at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
One of the prime factors that weighed on Modi’s mind was the excellent understanding Subramanian shares with Rajan.
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