The Indian government is likely to give central bank governor Shaktikanta Das a second term extension. This would be an unusual move that would make him the top for the longest period of time since the 1960s.
Before Das was named head of the Reserve Bank of India in December 2018, during a turbulent period in the relationship between the government and the regulator, he was one of the most trusted bureaucrats in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration.
A further extension would make Das the RBI's governor for the longest period since Benegal Rama Rau, who held the position for 7-1/2 years from 1949 to 1957. Das's current term expires on December 10 and he has already served longer than the usual five-year maximum of recent decades.
According to two government officials with firsthand knowledge of the situation, Das' term is probably going to be extended for at least another year, and no other candidates are currently being evaluated or a selection committee has been established.
The decision is expected to be made following the conclusion of the Maharashtra state elections' polling.
Ad hoc appointments by the ruling party that could influence voter behavior are prohibited by the nation's Election Commission. The Prime Minister would make the final decision.
