Four years and four challenges of RBI governor

Shaktikanta Das is nimble-footed and open to ideas - a trapeze artist, and a master of the finest balancing act who listens to all but takes his own decisions

The 87-year-old Indian central bank has seen 25 governors. Benegal Rama Rau had the longest tenure — a little over seven and a half years, from July 1, 1949 to January 14, 1957. Of the eight Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governors who have held office since the economic liberalisation of 1991, Bimal Jalan had the longest stint and S Venkitaramanan the shortest.

Shaktikanta Das will overtake Jalan when he completes his second term in December 2024. In fact, after Rama Rau, Das will be the second governor in the RBI’s history to be at the helm for at least six