World Bank chief economist Kaushik Basu today said that it is extremely important that the central bank enjoys autonomy.
Asked about the proposed monetary policy panel, Basu said, "In general it is extremely important that the central bank has autonomy. It aims to institutionalise decision making on interest and inflation."
Basu was speaking on the sidelines of an IIM-Calcutta lecture.
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Basu, who is rumoured to be in the race for the RBI's top job, declined to comment.
According to reports, Basu, who is stepping down as the World Bank's chief economist, made it to a shortlist of candidates to take over as RBI Governor after incumbent Raghuram Rajan's term expires on September 4.
RBI deputy governor Urjit Patel, former deputy governor Subir Gokarn and State Bank of India Chair Arundhati Bhattacharya are also in the fray, the reports suggested.