Dr. Rakesh Mohan is an esteemed Indian economist, Central Banker, and policy strategist, renowned for his pivotal role in Indian economic reforms in the 1990s and his service as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) across two terms. His deep, strategic expertise in fiscal and monetary policy is recognized globally, making him a leading thinker on the economic policies and financial architecture of emerging markets.
Mohan’s career trajectory is marked by high-level government service and prestigious academic affiliations. He served as Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Finance and was an advisor to numerous government ministries on issues including industry and finance. He was later appointed as India’s Executive Director of the IMF (2012–2015), representing a consortium of nations. His academic credentials are world-class, including a B.A. from Yale University and a Ph.D. in Economics from Princeton University.
He is currently a Professor of Practice of International Economics & Finance at Yale University’s School of Management, a non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the Stanford Centre for International Development, and a Global Adviser for McKinsey and Company. His published work includes multiple books on urban economics and development, as well as on monetary policy, such as Monetary Policy in a Globalized Economy: A Practitioner's View. As a speaker, Dr. Mohan draws on his experience steering the RBI and participating in G20 meetings to provide authoritative, high-level insights on the challenges and policy dilemmas facing a globalized emerging economy. He is also the Vice-Chairman of the Indian Institute of Human Settlements, underscoring his expertise in urban policy and sustainable development.
