List of RBI Governors of India 1935 to 2024

The RBI Governor is the Chief Executive Officer of the Central Bank of India and the Ex-officio Chairman of its Central Board of Directors. The RBI Governor is appointed by the government of India and is not generally elected. The signature of the RBI Governor is present on the Indian currency notes. The list of RBI governors is an important segment to learn for the candidates preparing for competitive exams.

Latest News

Sanjay Malhotra, a seasoned bureaucrat and Revenue Secretary, has been appointed as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). A 1990-batch IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre, he succeeds Shaktikanta Das, whose tenure ends on 10th December 2024. Malhotra brings over three decades of diverse experience spanning finance, taxation, power, IT, and mining.

List of RBI Governor of India

In the list of RBI Governor of India, the first governor of India is Sir Osborne Smith. He served as the Governor from 1st April 1935 to 30th June 1937. The list of RBI governors from 1935 to 2024 is given below.

RBI Governor Duration from 1935-2021
From To
Sir Osborne Smith April 1, 1935 June 30, 1937
Sir James Braid Taylor July 1, 1937 February 17, 1943
Sir C.D. Deshmukh August 11, 1943 June 30, 1949
Sir Bengal Rama Rau July 1, 1949 January 14, 1957
K.G. Ambegaonkar January 14, 1957 February 28, 1957
H.V.R. Lyengar March 1, 1957 February 28, 1962
P.C. Bhattacharya March 1, 1962 June 30, 1967
L.K. Jha July 1, 1967 May 3, 1970
B.N. Adarkar May 4, 1970 June 15, 1970
S. Jagannathan June 16, 1970 May 19, 1975
N.C. Sen Gupta May 19, 1975 August 19, 1975
K.R. Puri August 20, 1975 May 2, 1977
M. Narasimham May 3, 1977 November 30, 1977
I.G. Patel December 1, 1977 September 15, 1982
Manmohan Singh September 16, 1982 January 14, 1985
Amitav Gosh January 15, 1985 September 4, 1985
R. N. Malhotra February 4, 1985 December 22, 1990
S. Vpnldraramanan December 22, 1990 December 21, 1992
C. Rangaerajan December 22, 1992 November 21, 1997
Bimal Jalan November 22, 1997 September 6, 2003
Y.V. Reddy September 6, 2003 – September 5, 2008
D. Subbarao September 5, 2008 – September 4, 2013
Raghuram G. Raj an September 4, 2013 – September 4, 2016
Urjit Ravindra Patel September 4, 2016 – December 10, 2018
Shaktikanta Das December 12, 2018 December 10, 2024
Sanjay Malhotra December 11, 2024 Till Date

Who is Sanjay Malhotra?

Sanjay Malhotra has been appointed as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), effective December 11, 2024, succeeding Shaktikanta Das. A 1990-batch IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre, Malhotra brings a wealth of experience spanning over three decades across finance, taxation, power, and information technology. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science Engineering from IIT Kanpur and a Master’s in Public Policy from Princeton University. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Secretary of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance and held roles such as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC). As the RBI Governor, Malhotra will face critical challenges, including reviving economic growth amidst a slowdown and addressing inflation concerns. His first significant task will be chairing the monetary policy committee meeting in February 2025, where key decisions on interest rates are anticipated.

RBI Governors of India: Roles & Functions

  • The RBI Governor holds the highest position in the financial institutions, the RBI Governor is responsible for the maintenance of the monetary stability in an economy.
  • RBI Governor of India heads responsible for issuing licenses to open new foreign and private banks.
  • The financial system of the nation is regulated by the RBI Governor who also has the responsibility to set parameters within which the whole financial system functions.
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) sets board guidelines for banking activities under which the nation’s banking and financial system operates.
  • The governor manages India’s foreign exchange reserves and oversees the preservation of the rupee’s external value.
  • RBI also carries out tasks to assist national goals for financing agriculture and rural areas.
Sumit Arora

As a team lead and current affairs writer at Adda247, I am responsible for researching and producing engaging, informative content designed to assist candidates in preparing for national and state-level competitive government exams. I specialize in crafting insightful articles that keep aspirants updated on the latest trends and developments in current affairs. With a strong emphasis on educational excellence, my goal is to equip readers with the knowledge and confidence needed to excel in their exams. Through well-researched and thoughtfully written content, I strive to guide and support candidates on their journey to success.

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