ARTICLE AD BOX
New Delhi: Leadership appointments at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) often reflect the institution’s evolving priorities as it navigates a fast-changing financial landscape. The central bank is continuing to strengthen its leadership in key functional areas, as reliable data and timely analysis become increasingly important in economic policymaking.
In this regard, the RBI has appointed Ravi Shankar as its new Executive Director with effect from July 1, 2026. In his new role, he will head the Department of Statistics and Information Management (DSIM), a key division responsible for statistical analysis, economic data management, and research support.
Prior to his elevation, Shankar served as Adviser-In-Charge of the Department of Statistics and Information Management. His promotion comes after more than three decades of service at the RBI, during which he has worked across several critical functions of the central bank.
According to an RBI statement, Shankar is a career central banker and statistician with extensive experience in corporate and banking statistics, the government securities market, settlement systems, debt management, and survey-based research. His work has contributed to strengthening the RBI’s statistical framework and supporting evidence-based policymaking.
The Department of Statistics and Information Management is one of the RBI‘s core departments. It is responsible for collecting, compiling, analysing, and disseminating a wide range of financial and economic data that supports monetary policy, financial stability assessments, and regulatory decision-making. The department also provides analytical inputs for research and policy formulation while improving the quality and reliability of statistical systems.
Shankar’s appointment is significant because of his broad experience across both statistical and financial market functions. As India’s financial ecosystem becomes increasingly digital and complex, the demand for high-quality data and robust analytical capabilities has grown steadily. The RBI has increasingly relied on data-driven insights to monitor economic trends, assess financial risks, and support policy decisions.
Beyond his operational responsibilities, Shankar has also served as a member of several committees and working groups on macroeconomic statistics and policy-related issues. His contributions have included developing statistical methodologies, strengthening reporting standards, and improving the quality of economic data used by policymakers and financial institutions.
The appointment comes as the RBI continues to modernise its data infrastructure and strengthen digital reporting systems. Accurate and timely statistics have become central to tracking inflation, credit growth, financial market activity, and broader macroeconomic developments, making data capability a long-term institutional priority.
By appointing a senior official with deep institutional knowledge and extensive expertise in statistics and financial markets, the RBI has reinforced its focus on continuity and technical excellence. As Executive Director, Ravi Shankar is expected to lead the department’s ongoing initiatives while supporting the central bank’s broader objective of strengthening data quality, analytical capabilities, and evidence-based policymaking.
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