Dr. Bimal Jalan is a highly respected economist in India, renowned for his significant contributions to the country's economic development. From 1997 to 2003, he served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, where he successfully managed the impact of the East Asian crisis and strengthened India's balance of payments. During his tenure, he also played a crucial role in maintaining a low inflation environment and implementing important financial sector reforms.
Before his time as Governor, Dr. Jalan held several prestigious positions in both India and abroad. He served as the Chief Economic Adviser to the Government, Banking Secretary, Finance Secretary, Member-Secretary of the Planning Commission, and Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister in India. Additionally, he represented India as an Executive Director on the Boards of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington D.C. He also served as the Director (Economic Affairs) of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.
In recognition of his outstanding service to the country, Dr. Jalan was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of India's Parliament, by the President in August 2003.
Dr. Jalan is not only a distinguished economist but also an accomplished author. He has written extensively on the Indian economy, with two of his recent books, "The Future of India: Politics, Economics and Governance" (Viking / Penguin, 2005) and its sequel "India's Politics: A View from the Backbench" (Viking / Penguin, 2007), focusing on current political developments in India and proposing reforms to enhance the stability and accountability of the parliamentary system.
