Bibek Debroy, Economist and Chairman of PM Modi's Economic Advisory Council, Dies at 69

New Delhi: Bibek Debroy, Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) and a renowned economist, has died at the age of 69. As per a senior EAC-PM official, Debroy was admitted to AIIMS. He was an influential figure in economic policy, having served as the Chancellor of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) in Pune and was awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to the field.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, calling Dr. Debroy a "towering scholar." PM Modi shared on social media, “Dr. Bibek Debroy Ji was a towering scholar, well-versed in diverse domains like economics, history, culture, politics, spirituality, and more. Through his works, he left an indelible mark on India's intellectual landscape. Beyond his contributions to public policy, he enjoyed working on our ancient texts, making them accessible to the youth.”

PM Modi further added, "I have known Dr. Debroy for many years. I will fondly remember his insights and passion for academic discourse. Saddened by his passing away. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti."

Tributes and condolences from the political community poured in following his passing. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan posted on X, "Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Bibek Debroy. He was a distinguished economist, a prolific author as well as an excellent academician. He will be admired for his policy guidance on economic issues and noteworthy contributions to India’s development. His columns in newspapers enriched and enlightened millions. Dr. Debroy leaves behind a lasting legacy in the world of economics, academia, and literature. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. May Almighty grant Sadgati to the departed. Om Shanti."

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya also took to X and wrote, "Saddened to hear of the passing of renowned economist and Chairman of PM Modi's Economic Advisory Council, Shri Bibek Debroy. A visionary and a Padma Shri awardee, he made lasting contributions to India's economic landscape. He also contributed immensely to our civilisational rejuvenation through his several translations of historical texts. His wisdom and insights will be greatly missed."

Who was Bibek Debroy?

Born on January 25 in a Bengali family in Shillong, Debroy's educational journey began at Ramakrishna Mission School, Narendrapur, followed by studies at Presidency College, Kolkata, Delhi School of Economics, and Trinity College, Cambridge. His teaching career included stints at Presidency College, Kolkata (1979-83), Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune (1983-87), and the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi (1987-93).

Dr. Bibek Debroy's extensive contributions to economic policy, public intellectualism, and literature have left a lasting impact on India's intellectual landscape. 

As a distinguished economist, he held important roles in various institutions, including Presidency College, Kolkata (1979-83), the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics in Pune (1983-87), the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in Delhi (1987-93), and the Department of Economic Affairs (1994-95). He also directed a Ministry of Finance/UNDP project on legal reforms (1993-98) and worked with the National Council of Applied Economic Research (1995-96), the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies (1997-2005), the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (2005-06), and the Centre for Policy Research (2007-2015). 

Dr. Debroy was also a member of NITI Aayog until June 5, 2019. Apart from his policy work, he authored and edited numerous books, papers, and popular articles, and served as a consulting and contributing editor for several newspapers.