Raghuram Rajan, RBI Governor
Raghuram Rajan, RBI GovernorAs Raghuram Rajan's three-year term as RBI Governor draws to a close in September, analysts speculate that odds of him getting a second term have come down after his 'one-eyed king ' remark.
Rajan, while speaking to a news website on April 17, had ruffled feathers when he said that India's economic growth stands out because of a sluggish global growth.
"Well, I think we've still to get to a place where we feel satisfied. We have this saying, 'in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king'. We're a little bit that way," Rajan had told the website. His comments drew sharp criticism from Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
A Mint report quoting brokerage firm Ambit Capital said the top contenders for this coveted job are Arundhati Bhattacharya, chairman of State Bank of India; finance secretary Shaktikanta Das; U K Sinha, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India; and Urijit Patel, deputy governor of the central bank.
We take a look at the top contenders who may replace Rajan.
Arundhati Bhattacharya
Bhattacharya was named first female chairperson of State Bank of India in 2013. Under her leadership, SBI started a two-year sabbatical policy for female employees taking maternity leave.
Shaktikanta Das
Shaktikanta Das, is a renowned bureaucrat who takes care of the budget division of the finance ministry. Das earlier held the assignment of Secretary, Department of Revenue in the same ministry.
U K Sinha
UK Sinha, a Bihar-cadre IAS officer, has been the second-longest serving chief in Sebi after he got an extension as Sebi chairman earlier this year. Sinha took over as Sebi chairman in 2011 with a three-year term. He was given a two-year extension, which was supposed to end on February 17.
Urijit Patel
Although his term as Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India was extended by three more years, Urjit Patel could be chosen for the top job for his role in keeping consumer inflation in control.