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.

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.