'Arvind Subramanian, the Chief Economic Adviser steps down before term'
screamed front page headlines a few days ago. It is interesting to recall that though he was initially appointed as CEA in Oct 2014 for a period of3 years, his term was extended till May 2019. It would be highly imprudent to either question or comment on his decision to quit.
In a period of 3 years, three excellent economists have left the country after serving in top positions. And all these resignations or exits do raise a question on the government even though they cited personal reasons for the departure publicly. Raghuramrajan , didn’t seek an extension, while Aravind Panagaria who was handpicked by PM to run NITIAYOG , sought a premature exit, and now Chief CEA, is cutting short the extension, resigned quoting some personal reasons. On the assumption of office, though the present government was able to attract the best of the available talent among the economists, mostly IMF variety, it has not been able to retain them.
However one fails to see any rationale behind Arun Jaitley himself announcing the CEA’s departure in a blog post. Is it not questionable? Was it appropriate for him to accept the resignation of Subramanian, as he is understood to have acquired the status of a “Minister without portfolio", soon after proceeding on medical leave for kidney ailment? Should CEA not have submitted his papers to Mr. Piyush Goyal, who happens to be nation’s interim Finance Minister?
screamed front page headlines a few days ago. It is interesting to recall that though he was initially appointed as CEA in Oct 2014 for a period of3 years, his term was extended till May 2019. It would be highly imprudent to either question or comment on his decision to quit.
In a period of 3 years, three excellent economists have left the country after serving in top positions. And all these resignations or exits do raise a question on the government even though they cited personal reasons for the departure publicly. Raghuramrajan , didn’t seek an extension, while Aravind Panagaria who was handpicked by PM to run NITIAYOG , sought a premature exit, and now Chief CEA, is cutting short the extension, resigned quoting some personal reasons. On the assumption of office, though the present government was able to attract the best of the available talent among the economists, mostly IMF variety, it has not been able to retain them.
However one fails to see any rationale behind Arun Jaitley himself announcing the CEA’s departure in a blog post. Is it not questionable? Was it appropriate for him to accept the resignation of Subramanian, as he is understood to have acquired the status of a “Minister without portfolio", soon after proceeding on medical leave for kidney ailment? Should CEA not have submitted his papers to Mr. Piyush Goyal, who happens to be nation’s interim Finance Minister?
