Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Encyclopedia
Montek Singh Ahluwalia is an Indian economist and civil servant. He is currently the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of the Republic of India. He was previously the first Director of the Independent Evaluation Office at the International Monetary Fund
.
, India
. He studied at St. Patrick's High School, Secunderabad, Delhi Public School, Mathura Road
, and Bishop Cotton School
Shimla
, then graduated with a B.A. (Hons) degree from St. Stephen's College, Delhi
, University of Delhi
. He received the BA(Hons) degree as a Rhodes scholar from the University of Oxford
having studied at Magdalen College, Oxford
. He also studied for a BPhil in Economics at Oxford University, which the university later reclassified as an MPhil. While at Oxford
, he was the president of the prestigious Oxford Union
.The 164-year-old Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, conferred the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) on Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, at the 11th Convocation Ceremony of the institute held on November 12, 2011 at IIT Roorkee.
during the tenures of Hollis Chenery and Robert MacNamara. At the age of 28, he became the youngest "Division Chief" in the World Bank's bureaucracy.
Prior to taking up his position at the IMF, Ahluwalia was a Member of the Planning Commission in New Delhi as well as a Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.
Being not a member of the Indian Civil Service
, he held the following positions of civl servants in the central government:
In 2007 he became a member of the influential Washington-based financial advisory body, the Group of Thirty
.
and has two children.
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
.
Early life and education
Montek Singh Ahluwalia was born in New DelhiNew Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He studied at St. Patrick's High School, Secunderabad, Delhi Public School, Mathura Road
Delhi Public School, Mathura Road
Delhi Public School, Mathura Road is a private co-educational day and boarding school in New Delhi, India. It is run by the Delhi Public School Society and is a member of the Indian Public School Conference. The school was founded in 1949 and was the first Delhi Public School...
, and Bishop Cotton School
Bishop Cotton School
Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, is one of the oldest boarding school in Asia, having been founded on 28 July, 1859, by Bishop George Edward Lynch Cotton. The alumni of Bishop Cotton are known as Old Cottonians...
Shimla
Shimla
Shimla , formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British...
, then graduated with a B.A. (Hons) degree from St. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi located in Delhi, India. The college admits both undergraduates and post-graduates, and awards degrees under the purview of the University. Famous for its rich history and many traditions, St...
, University of Delhi
University of Delhi
The University of Delhi is a central university situated in Delhi, India and is funded by Government of India. Established in 1922, it offers courses at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. Vice-President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari is the Chancellor of the university...
. He received the BA(Hons) degree as a Rhodes scholar from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
having studied at Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
. He also studied for a BPhil in Economics at Oxford University, which the university later reclassified as an MPhil. While at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, he was the president of the prestigious Oxford Union
Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford...
.The 164-year-old Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, conferred the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) on Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, at the 11th Convocation Ceremony of the institute held on November 12, 2011 at IIT Roorkee.
Career
Ahuluwalia, after graduating from University of Oxford, joined the World BankWorld Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
during the tenures of Hollis Chenery and Robert MacNamara. At the age of 28, he became the youngest "Division Chief" in the World Bank's bureaucracy.
Prior to taking up his position at the IMF, Ahluwalia was a Member of the Planning Commission in New Delhi as well as a Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.
Being not a member of the Indian Civil Service
Civil Services of India
The Civil Services of India refer to the civil service and the permanent bureaucracy of the Government of India...
, he held the following positions of civl servants in the central government:
- Secretary, Ministry of Finance
- Secretary, Department of Economic AffairsDepartment of Economic AffairsThe Department of Economic Affairs could refer to:*Department of Economic Affairs - A government body in the UK in the 1960s.*Federal Department of Economic Affairs - A government body in Switzerland....
- Secretary, Ministry of Commerce
- Special Secretary to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and
- Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Finance.
In 2007 he became a member of the influential Washington-based financial advisory body, the Group of Thirty
Group of Thirty
The Group of Thirty, often abbreviated to G30, is an international body of leading financiers and academics which aims to deepen understanding of economic and financial issues and to examine consequences of decisions made in the public and private sectors related to these issues...
.
Personal life
Ahluwalia is married to fellow economist Dr. Isher Judge AhluwaliaIsher Judge Ahluwalia
Dr. Isher Judge Ahluwalia is currently Vice Chairperson, Planning Board, Punjab, and Member, National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council, Government of India. She served as Director and Chief Executive of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations in New Delhi from...
and has two children.
Awards and Honours
| Year of Award or Honor | Name of Award or Honor | Awarding Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Honoris Causa Doctorate of Science | IIT Roorkee. |
| 2011 | Padma Vibhushan Padma Vibhushan The Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award in the Republic of India. It consists of a medal and a citation and is awarded by the President of India. It was established on 2 January 1954. It ranks behind the Bharat Ratna and comes before the Padma Bhushan... |
President of India President of India The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary... . |
| 2008 | Doctor of Civil Law | University of Oxford University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096... . |
External links
- IMF entry on Montek Singh Ahluwalia
- Montek Singh Ahluwalia's address at IIM Ahmedabad in Mp3
- For a critical review of aspects of Montek Ahluwalia's economic policy-making, see "Fallacious Finance: Congress, BJP, CPI-M et al may be leading India to hyperinflation" first published in The Statesman newspaper, March 5, 2007 Editorial Page Special Article www.thestatesman.net, now also at "Fallacious Finance: Congress, BJP, CPI-M et al may be leading India to hyperinflation". independentindian.com