Mumbai, April 2025- In a significant development in India’s central banking leadership, Dr. Poonam Gupta officially assumed charge as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday. Her appointment, announced by the Government of India last month, is for a term of three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
With this appointment, Dr. Gupta becomes the fourth woman Deputy Governor in the history of the RBI, following the distinguished tenures of KJ Udeshi, Shyamala Gopinath, and Usha Thorat. Her elevation signals a strong commitment toward diversity and deep economic expertise in India’s monetary policy and financial governance.
Key Departments Under Her Oversight
As Deputy Governor, Dr. Poonam Gupta will oversee some of the most critical verticals within the RBI, including:
- Monetary Policy Department
- Financial Markets Operations
- Economic and Policy Research
- Financial Stability
- International Affairs
- Statistics and Information Management
- Corporate Strategy and Budget
- Communication
This portfolio places her at the heart of India’s central banking system, giving her strategic influence over the country’s monetary policy framework, macro-financial stability, and international economic relations.
A Distinguished Economic Career
Prior to this role, Dr. Gupta served as the Director General of the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), one of India’s premier economic think tanks. She has also been a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister and served as Convener of the Advisory Council to the 16th Finance Commission, contributing to fiscal policy deliberations at the highest level.
Her global experience spans nearly two decades at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, where she worked in senior economist roles focused on emerging markets and development policy. In academia, she has held teaching and research positions at institutions such as the Delhi School of Economics, University of Maryland, and the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI).
Dr. Gupta has previously been appointed as the RBI Chair Professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) and served as a professor at ICRIER (Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations).
A New Era for RBI and Monetary Policy in India
With her extensive background in international finance, public policy, and economic research, Dr. Poonam Gupta’s appointment is expected to bring fresh insights into RBI’s monetary policy and its response to both domestic and global economic challenges. Her role will be crucial as India navigates inflationary pressures, currency stability, capital flows, and broader financial sector reforms.
This leadership move comes amid broader restructuring within the RBI’s Deputy Governors, aligning responsibilities with the institution’s evolving focus areas.
For more updates on RBI leadership, Regulations and the future of central banking in India, stay tuned to Banking Frontiers.
