Rise of Odia Officers: Two Odisha-Born Bureaucrats Now Principal Secretaries to PM Modi
Rise of Odia Officers: Two Odisha-Born Bureaucrats Now Principal Secretaries to PM Modi
In a historic development, two Odisha-born bureaucrats now hold top positions in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), marking the first instance of such leadership. Former RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has been appointed as Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, joining PK Mishra, a 1972-batch IAS officer from the Gujarat cadre, who continues as Principal Secretary-1. This creates a dual leadership structure within the PMO.
Shaktikanta Das, with six years of experience as RBI Governor, played a crucial role in steering India’s economy through the COVID-19 crisis and implementing transformative reforms like GST. Meanwhile, PK Mishra, a long-time aide of Prime Minister Modi since his tenure as Gujarat’s Chief Minister, has been pivotal in policy coordination and administrative governance at the national level. Their combined expertise brings together economic management and central policy implementation, making for a complementary leadership approach.
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Impact on Odisha’s Development
The appointment of these two seasoned bureaucrats coincides with growing national focus on Odisha’s development. Economist Rajiv Sahu highlighted Shaktikanta Das’ contributions, noting his efficiency in handling demonetization as Economic Affairs Secretary and his leadership in overseeing economic relief measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his tenure, India has witnessed significant reforms in the monetary and banking sectors.
With both administrative and economic expertise at the helm of the PMO, Odisha’s representation in national governance has never been stronger, potentially paving the way for greater focus on the state’s development agenda.
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