The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) which is India’s leading economic policy think tank, has announced the appointment of Suresh Goyal as its next Director General. Tenure will be effective from January 5, 2026. The appointment comes at a crucial time as India strengthens its focus on evidence-based policymaking to achieve long-term growth and development goals.
Who is Suresh Goyal?
- Over 30 years of experience across public and private sectors
- Former Managing Director & CEO, National Highway Infra Trust (NHIT)
- NHIT supports the National Monetisation Pipeline under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and NHAI
- Previously Senior Managing Director & Head of India and Southeast Asia at Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets, Singapore
Key Responsibilities as Director General
- As Director General, Goyal has been mandated to expand NCAER’s work into new and emerging policy domains.
- These include states’ growth, health economics, macroeconomics, finance, and data-driven policy insights.
- He will also focus on building new research centres, expanding NCAER’s endowment, and strengthening engagement with central and state governments, thereby amplifying the think tank’s role in shaping India’s economic agenda.
What Is NCAER?
- The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) is one of India’s oldest and most respected independent economic research institutions.
- It conducts policy-oriented research to support government decision-making at both central and state levels.
- NCAER works across diverse areas such as macroeconomics, agriculture, human development, trade, technology, gender studies, and policy modelling, and regularly collaborates with ministries, state governments, and international organizations.
Significance of the Appointment
- Evidence-Based Policymaking: Reinforces the importance of research-backed economic governance
- Infrastructure–Policy Synergy: Goyal’s experience in infrastructure finance and monetisation bridges policy research with implementation
- Alignment with National Vision: Supports the goal of Viksit Bharat through institutional strengthening and long-term planning
Key Takeaways
- Suresh Goyal has been appointed Director General of NCAER from January 5, 2026.
- He succeeds Poonam Gupta, who served as DG until April 2025.
- NCAER is India’s leading economic policy think tank.
- Goyal is the former MD & CEO of National Highway Infra Trust (NHIT).
Question
Q. NCAER is primarily known as:
(A) A central bank
(B) India’s oldest and leading economic policy think tank
(C) A stock market regulator
(D) A public sector bank