The recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu, followed by a meeting between Home Minister Amit Shah and the President, have fuelled speculation over a possible Union cabinet reshuffle as well as changes in the BJP's organisational structure.
According to sources, the reshuffle is likely to take place before the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Among the names being discussed is that of former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Shaktikanta Das, who is currently serving as the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
Sources indicated that Das is being considered for the post of Union finance minister, while the incumbent, Nirmala Sitharaman, is expected to be shifted to the human resource development (HRD) ministry. Sitharaman has been serving as the Union minister for finance and corporate affairs since 2019.
There has, however, been no official confirmation from either the government or the BJP regarding any proposed changes.
If the move materialises, it would bring into the Cabinet a seasoned administrator with more than four decades of experience across several areas of governance.
Das served as the 25th Governor of the RBI from 2018 to 2024. Before assuming charge at the RBI, he was a member of the 15th Finance Commission and India's G20 Sherpa.
Over the course of his career, Das has held several key positions in both the Central and state governments, handling portfolios related to finance, taxation, industries and infrastructure.
During his tenure in the finance ministry, he was closely associated with the preparation of eight Union Budgets, giving him extensive experience in public finance and economic policymaking. Besides, Das was also the senior Department of Economic Affairs official in the finance ministry during the planning and implementation phase of demonetisation.
A postgraduate from St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, Das has also served as India's Alternate Governor to the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the New Development Bank, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He has represented India at major international forums, including the IMF, G20, BRICS, and SAARC.
