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Ashok Lahiri Named Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog
Ashok Lahiri Appointed New Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog
NEW DELHI, April 26, 2026 — In a major administrative restructuring of India’s premier policy think tank, the Government of India has appointed veteran economist Ashok Kumar Lahiri as the new Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog. Lahiri, a former Chief Economic Adviser (CEA), will succeed Suman Bery, who has led the institution since May 2022.
The appointment comes as part of a broader overhaul of NITI Aayog, aimed at injecting fresh strategic thinking into the government’s "Viksit Bharat 2047" roadmap.
A Distinguished Career in Economics
Ashok Lahiri brings over four decades of high-level expertise in economic policy and administration. His career highlights include:
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Chief Economic Adviser (2002–2007): Served under both the Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh administrations, providing a bridge between different economic philosophies.
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15th Finance Commission: Served as a full-time member, playing a critical role in determining the tax-sharing formula between the Centre and States.
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International Roles: Held senior positions at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, and served as an Executive Director at the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
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Academic & Institutional Leadership: Formerly the Director of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) and a reader at the Delhi School of Economics.
Broader Reconstitution of NITI Aayog
Alongside Lahiri’s appointment, the government has named four new full-time members to broaden the body's sectoral expertise:
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Prof. Gobardhan Das: Director of IISER Bhopal (Specialist in Immunology and Health).
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Dr. M. Srinivas: Director of AIIMS, Delhi (Health and Medical Education).
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Prof. Abhay Karandikar: Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (Technology and Innovation).
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Prof. K.V. Raju: Member of the PM’s Economic Advisory Council (Agriculture and Rural Management).
Rajiv Gauba remains the only continuing member from the previous team, providing administrative continuity.
Suman Bery: The Outgoing Vice Chairman
Before Ashok Lahiri’s appointment, Suman Bery served as the 3rd Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog. He took office on May 1, 2022, succeeding Dr. Rajiv Kumar, and served until April 30, 2026.
Professional Background
Suman Bery is a renowned policy economist and research administrator with extensive international and domestic experience:
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World Bank: He spent 28 years at the World Bank, eventually becoming a lead economist focusing on financial sector development and public debt management.
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Shell: Between 2012 and 2016, he served as the Global Chief Economist for Royal Dutch Shell in The Hague.
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NCAER: He was the Director-General of the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) for a decade (2001–2011).
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Advisory Roles: He has served as a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council and the Statistical Commission of India.
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