Das was replying to a question whether the government had said anything about his continuation after the end of his current tenure. Back in 2021, the government extended it just a month before it expired.
A panel comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will decide on the appointment of the next RBI governor. The tenure of the career bureaucrat-turned-central banker ends on December 10. Das has been given this second three-year extension and is already one of the longest-serving RBI governors in its 90-year history.
The RBI on Friday opted to keep rates unchanged for the 11th consecutive time amid growing calls to address a 5.4 percent slowdown in GDP growth in the July-September quarter. On Friday, Das clarified that the RBI is working within the flexibility offered to the central bank by law, making it clear that its effort is to keep a tight rein on the inflation horse.
Das took over at a very difficult time for the RBI, replacing Arjit Patel who decided to resign before the end of his term. Over the past six years, Das has tackled a number of challenges, including Covid-19 and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. He has been awarded Central Banker of the Year twice in a row at global forums for his skillful navigation of the world’s fastest growing major economy. (with PTI input)