Panagariya Appointed Vice Chair of NITI Aayog

Arvind Panagariya, professor of economics and the Jagdish N. Bhagwati Professor of Indian Political Economy in the Department of International and Public Affairs, has been appointed vice chairman of NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), a restructured public agency known until January 1 as the Planning Commission of India. Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, announced the appointment on January 5, 2015.

In this cabinet position, Panagariya will work closely with Modi, who will serve as chair of the renamed institution. Officials envision NITI Aayog as a government “think tank” that will provide strategic and technical advising on key issues.

“I congratulate Professor Arvind Panagariya, a leading expert on the Indian economy and international economics, whose global perspective and broad experience will serve him well as Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog,” said Dean Merit E. Janow of SIPA.

Panagariya, who will take a leave of absence from Columbia University to accept the assignment, had completed a full decade as a member of the SIPA faculty as of 2014. During this period he taught courses on international trade, the Indian economy, and globalization.  For Spring 2015, just prior to his transition into the new role, he launched a new course titled “Topics in Trade, Growth and Development.”  His lectures are known for their analytic rigor and clarity.

Panagariya has also served as the director of the Program on Indian Economic Policies at Columbia University, funded by a grant from the Templeton Foundation. Research and books produced by the program, especially the book India’s Tryst with Destiny by Jagdish Bhagwati and Arvind Panagariya, have been highly influential in shaping the economic-policy debate of the general elections that elevated Modi to the highest office of the country.  Panagariya's most recent book, Why Growth Matters (April 2013, Public Affairs) -- also co-authored with Bhagwati -- won the Eccles Prize for Excellence in Economic Writing and was listed as a best book of the year by the Financial Times.

“I am honored by this appointment, and I look forward to working with Prime Minister Modi and policymakers across India,” said Panagariya.

Panagariya also said he expects to continue to engage with Columbia SIPA when such opportunities arise and will resume his work at the School when his assignment is completed.

“Arvind is an important member of the international community of scholars who study and address world challenges at SIPA,” said Janow. “We are proud that he has been selected for this important assignment and look forward to deepening still further our scholarship and engagement with India.”