Bibek Debroy, Economist and Chairman of PM's Economic Advisory Council, Passes Away at 69

Bibek Debroy, economist and chairman of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Economic Advisory Council, passed away at the age of 69 on Friday. According to AIIMS Delhi, he died today at 7 AM due to intestinal obstruction. 

Prime Minister Modi expressed his condolences, taking to social media platform "X", he described Debroy as a "towering scholar" well-versed in a variety of fields, including economics, history, and spirituality. "Through his works, he left an indelible mark on India's intellectual landscape," posted the Prime Minister.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan paid tribute to Debroy, calling him a "distinguished economist" and "excellent academician." "He will be admired for his policy guidance on economic issues and noteworthy contributions to India's development," said Pradhan. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled Debroy's death calling him "a brilliant son of Bengal and a scholar of repute." "Saddened by the news of the sudden demise of Bibek Debroy, noted economist and Chairman of PM's Economic Advisory Council. A brilliant son of Bengal and a scholar of repute, he will be remembered by us. Condolences to the bereaved family and friends,"posted Mamata Banerjee. 

A recipient of the Padma Shri award, Debroy previously served as the chancellor of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) in Pune. Debroy received his education at several prestigious institutions, including Ramakrishna Mission School, Narendrapur; Presidency College, Kolkata; the Delhi School of Economics; and Trinity College, Cambridge. 

His professional journey included roles at various academic institutions, such as Presidency College in Kolkata, the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in Delhi, and as the Director of a legal reforms project under the Ministry of Finance and UNDP. He was also a member of NITI Aayog until June 2019.

Bibek Debroy was known for his expertise in macroeconomics, public finance, and infrastructure, publishing extensively on economic reforms and governance. He also gained recognition for translating classical Sanskrit texts, including the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita, making ancient Indian wisdom more accessible to contemporary readers.