Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai earlier today due to a minor health issue. According to the RBI, Das experienced acidity and was taken to the hospital for observation.
“Reserve Bank of India Governor Shri Shaktikanta Das experienced acidity and was admitted to Apollo Hospital, Chennai for observation. He is now doing fine and will be discharged in the next 2–3 hours. There is no cause for concern,” an RBI spokesperson said in a statement.
The central bank has assured that the Governor’s condition is stable, and he is expected to be discharged within a few hours.
The government is reportedly planning to extend the tenure of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das for a second time, according to a Reuters report. If approved, Das would become the longest-serving RBI governor since the 1960s, marking a historic milestone for the central bank.
Das, who took office in December 2018, has been a key figure in stabilizing the RBI during a period of tension between the central bank and the government. Known for his close rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Das’s leadership has been instrumental in navigating several economic challenges.
The Governor’s current term is set to end on December 10. Having already surpassed the standard five-year tenure for RBI governors in recent decades, an extension would place Das in the league of Benegal Rama Rau, who served as governor for 7.5 years between 1949 and 1957.
According to two government sources, no alternative candidates are currently under consideration, and a selection committee has not been formed. The likelihood of at least a one-year extension underscores the government’s confidence in Das’s stewardship of the central bank.
Das’s extended tenure, if confirmed, would cement his legacy as a stabilizing force at the helm of India’s monetary policy.
