Quick Info
| Profession | Economist, Civil Servant |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 24/11/1943 |
| Age | 82 years |
| Birthplace | Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, British India (modern-day Punjab, Pakistan) |
Latest News about Montek Singh Ahluwalia
20/09/2025
Montek Singh Ahluwalia participated as a panellist at the Nobel Prize Dialogue India 2025 event, where he discussed India's economic challenges and future growth strategies as the former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India.
08/08/2025
At the BT India @100 Summit on 8 August 2025, Montek Singh Ahluwalia urged India to avoid imitating Donald Trump's trade policies and instead pursue open trade by finalizing an FTA with the EU, pursuing a deal with the UK, and considering joining the CPTPP trade bloc. He warned that India's current 6.5% growth rate is insufficient and called for deeper integration with the non-U.S. world to remain committed to global trade.
12/06/2025
Speaking at the Ahmedabad Management Association on 12 June 2025, Montek Singh Ahluwalia emphasized that India must improve infrastructure and energy efficiency to achieve growth rates exceeding 7.5%. He stressed the need for greater inclusiveness and sustainability in the Indian economy to ensure continued high growth.
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Bio/Wiki
| Profession(s) | Economist, Civil Servant |
|---|---|
| Famous for | Serving as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India from 6 July 2004 to 26 May 2014, and being a key figure in India's economic reforms since the mid-1980s |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 172 cm (5' 8") |
|---|---|
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Salt & Pepper |
Educational Qualification(s)
| School(s) | St. Patrick's High School, Secunderabad | Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, New Delhi |
|---|---|
| College/University | St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, Delhi | Magdalen College, University of Oxford, Oxford, England | St. Antony's College, Oxford |
| Educational Qualification(s) | B.A. (Hons) from St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, Delhi | M.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Magdalen College, University of Oxford, Oxford | M.Phil. from St. Antony's College, Oxford |
Personal Life
| Religion | Sikhism |
|---|
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Widower |
|---|---|
| Affairs/Girlfriends | Isher Judge Ahluwalia (economist, public policy researcher, professor) |
Family
| Father | Jagmohan Singh (clerk at Defence Accounts Department) |
|---|---|
| Mother | Pushp Kaur |
| Siblings | Brother - Sanjeev Ahluwalia (retired IAS officer) |
| Spouse | Isher Judge Ahluwalia (deceased) |
| Children | Son(s) - Pavan Ahluwalia (Founder & Managing Director at Laburnum Capital), Aman Ahluwalia (lawyer) |
| Other Relatives | Daughter-in-law - Sarah Jacob (journalist and editor) |
Career
| Awards, Honours, Achievements | Doctor of Civil Law by Oxford University (2008) | Padma Vibhushan by the then President of India Pratibha Patil for his outstanding contribution to economic policy and public service (2011) | Honoris Causa Doctorate of Science by IIT Roorkee (2011) | Honoris Causa Doctorate of Science by Indian School of Mines (2013) | Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford |
|---|---|
| Career History | World Bank Young Professional (1968-1979) | Economic Adviser, Ministry of Finance, Government of India (1979-1988) | Special Secretary to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi (1988-1990) | Commerce Secretary (1990-1991) | Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance (1991-1993) | Finance Secretary, Ministry of Finance (1993-1998) | Member, Planning Commission and Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (1998-2001) | First Director, Independent Evaluation Office, International Monetary Fund (2001-2004) | Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission of India (2004-2014) | Distinguished Visiting Professor, Stern School of Business, New York University (2014-present) |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Montek Singh Ahluwalia is a prominent Indian economist and civil servant. | |
| 2. He served as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India from 2004 to 2014. | |
| 3. Montek was also the inaugural director of the Independent Evaluation Office at the International Monetary Fund. | |
| 4. He holds multiple honorary degrees and is a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, England. | |
| 5. Starting at the World Bank, Montek later returned to India. | |
| 6. He played a crucial role in shaping Indian economic policy and participated in various advisory groups. | |
| 7. Montek Singh Ahluwalia authored articles, contributed to book chapters, and co-wrote a book on income distribution. | |
| 8. He was honored with the Padma Vibhushan for his contributions to economic policy and public service. | |
| 9. Montek Singh Ahluwalia was married to Isher Judge Ahluwalia, an esteemed economist and public policy researcher. | |
| 10. Isher Judge Ahluwalia passed away in 2020. | |
| 11. Currently, Montek Singh Ahluwalia is a distinguished fellow at a public policy think tank. | |
| 12. He is the author of the book 'Backstage: The Story Behind India’s High Growth Years'. | |
| 13. Montek Singh Ahluwalia is a Rhodes Scholar who studied at Oxford University. | |
| 14. Montek was the inaugural director of the Independent Evaluation Office at the International Monetary Fund. | |
| 15. Starting at the World Bank as a Young Professional in 1968, Montek later returned to India in 1979. | |
| 16. He is currently a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Stern School of Business, New York University. | |
| 17. He serves on the governing council of the Global Green Growth Institute, based in South Korea. |