Opinion: RBI To PMO, Shaktikanta Das And The Rise Of Modi’s Technocratic Inner Circle

PM Narendra Modi’s governance hinges on calculated faith in bureaucrats he’s tested and trusts.

Source : PTI (Modified)

Shaktikanta Das’s appointment as principal secretary-2 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 22, 2025, not only marks a significant career milestone for the former RBI governor, but also sheds light on the persistent reliance of Indian leaders on bureaucrats, or ‘babus’, to guide governance. From prime ministers Indira Gandhi to Manmohan Singh — and at the state level, Mamata Banerjee to Naveen Patnaik — India’s political landscape has been shaped by