Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia

Venue: Barn Hall
Date: 15th March 2019
Time: 10:00am

Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia, a renowned economist, was the Deputy Chairman of the Erstwhile Planning Commission of India. He earned his B.A. (Hons) degree from St. Stephen's College, the University of Delhi and his M.A. and M.Phil. degrees as a Rhodes scholar from the University of Oxford. He was also the president of the Oxford Union, the University’s prestigious debating society. He was the youngest division chief at the World Bank, and also served as a Director in the IMF.

He has been a key figure in the Indian economic reform process, having held several senior positions as an economist, including Economic Advisor to the Finance ministry, Special Secretary to the Prime Minister, Commerce Secretary, Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, and Finance Secretary. He was appointed as a member of the Planning Commission in 1998.  He has consistently pushed towards an open economy with a larger role for the private sector. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honour, in 2011.