Famous Indian Economists

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was an Indian politician who played an influential role in the Indian independence movement. Dubbed the Iron Man of India and Unifier of India, Sardar Patel played an important role in integrating various princely states into a united, independent nation. In 2018, the world's tallest statue called the Statue of Unity was dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The 13th Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh became the first Sikh in office when he took office in 2004. A prominent economist and academic, he held several key posts in the Government of India in the 1970s and 1980s. Known for his humility, he  has been described by the media as "one of the world's most revered leaders."

Raghuram Rajan is an Indian economist who served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 2013 to 2016. He also served as the 15th Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India. For his significant contribution in the field of economics, Raghuram Rajan was honored with the Fischer Black Prize by the American Finance Association in 2003.

Indian politician Subramanian Swamy, who is a BJP MP, has also been the president of the Janata Party earlier. Known for his far-right views, he was previously a professor economics at IIT, Delhi. He boasts of a PhD from Harvard and has penned several books, such as Terrorism in India.

Urjit Patel is an Indian economist. From 2016 to 2018, he served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. In 2018, he resigned stating personal reasons. He also became the fifth governor to have resigned before the completion of his term. Urjit Patel is the recipient of Yale University’s Wilbur Cross Medal. 

Jairam Ramesh is an Indian politician and economist. From 2011 to 2014, he served as the Minister of Rural Development. An influential figure, Ramesh also served as the Minister of State at the Ministry of Environment and Forests from 2009 to 2011. Jairam Ramesh has contributed as a columnist for many popular publications and has also authored many books.  

Nanabhoy Palkhivala was an Indian liberal economist and jurist. Best remembered for his clear thinking and brilliant court craft, Palkhivala helped shape the constitutional jurisprudence in India. He achieved national recognition for his high-profile cases and his annual budget speeches.   

Bimal Jalan is an Indian economist and politician. From 1997 to 2003, Jalan served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. A respected economist, he also served as the seventh Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India.

Bibek Debroy is a well-respected Indian economist who has has made significant contributions to game theory, economic theory, income and social inequalities, law reforms and railway reforms. A former member of NITI Aayog, the think tank of the Indian Government, he currently serves as the Chairman of the PM's Economic Council. Author of several books and papers, he has been awarded Padma Shri by Government of India.

Born to a Tamil scholar father in Coimbatore, C. K. Prahalad was educated at IIM Ahmedabad and Harvard. Named one of the most influential business thinkers of the world by Thinkers 50, he taught corporate strategy at the University of Michigan and revolutionized bottom of the pyramid studies.

A forceful advocate of free trade and economic globalization, Jagdish Bhagwati is an India-born American economist, known for his contributions to the theory of international trade and economic development. Especially opposed the inclusion of labor and environmental standards in free-trade agreements, he has authored numerous articles and books, which include Free Trade Today (2002) and In Defense of Globalization (2004).

Apart from being the elder brother of Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, Swaminathan Aiyar is also a renowned journalist and economist. He is known for his association with The Economic Times and The Times of India, especially for his popular column Swaminomics in the latter. He also manages the Mukundan Charitable Trust.