sikhpride

He held several senior positions as a civil servant, including Special Secretary to the Prime Minister, Commerce secretary, Secretary Department of Economic Affairs in the Finance Ministry and Finance Secretary. In 1998 he was appointed Member of the Planning Commission. In 2001, he was chosen by the Board of International Monetary Fund to be the first director of the newly created Independent Evaluation Office, in which capacity he supervised several studies critical of various aspects of the functioning of the IMF. In June 2004, he resigned from the IMF position to take up as the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission as part of the United Progressive Alliance government in New Delhi. He was a part of Dr. Manmohan Singh team when economic reforms were under taken by him. He has also written on various aspects of India’s economic reforms and on the inclusiveness of India’s growth process. In planning commission and 11th and 12th five year plan were made and carried forward under his supervision. Some other books dealing with planning and economics progress of the country were also written by him. Considering his services, the President of India awarded him the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian honor for public service. The high positions held by him and the honors bestowed upon him in India and abroad make him a role model in the field of public service. His wife Dr. Isher Judge Ahluwalia is also a renowned economist of India.