Neelkanth Mishra to represent India at World Bank amid changing global order
New Delhi, June 5
In a significant development, seasoned economist Neelkanth Mishra has been appointed as India's Executive Director at the World Bank. The appointment, approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, will be for a tenure of three years at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC.
Mishra will take charge from Parameswaran Iyer, whose tenure has been extended until Mishra assumes office. He is a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM).
He will represent India at the World Bank's Board, which oversees lending operations, development projects, financial policies and governance decisions. The position is considered one of India's most important economic diplomacy roles, involving discussions on global development financing, infrastructure investment, poverty reduction and economic growth initiatives.
Currently serving as Chief Economist at Axis Bank and also Head of Global Research and a Whole-Time Director at Axis Capital, he is widely regarded as one of India's most respected economists and market strategists.
Before joining Axis Group in 2023, he spent nearly two decades at Credit Suisse, where he served as Managing Director, India Strategist and Co-Head of Equity Strategy for the Asia-Pacific region.
Mishra also serves as Part-time Chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and Part-time member of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
Mishra has additionally advised several government committees and institutions, including the 15th and 16th Finance Commissions.
An alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, he secured an All-India Rank of 4 in the IIT entrance examination. In recognition of his achievements, IIT Kanpur conferred upon him the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2020.
At Infosys, he worked as a Senior Technical Architect.
Over the years, Mishra has consistently been ranked among India's top analysts.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Hope he pushes for more climate-resilient infrastructure funding for developing nations. Our farmers are feeling the heat of changing weather patterns, and the World Bank's lending needs to adapt accordingly. His background in economics should help.
Another banker becomes our voice at World Bank. What about someone from rural development or agriculture? We keep sending financial experts, but the real issues are about poverty reduction on the ground. A bit disappointed with the choice honestly.
Neelkanth Mishra's work on ease of doing business and financial inclusion is well known. With the global order shifting, India needs someone who can navigate both Western and Global South perspectives. His experience at Credit Suisse and Axis Bank gives him a 360-degree view. Solid pick.
All the best to him! But I'm wondering why the government keeps giving these key positions to the same IIT-IIM crowd. There are brilliant economists from smaller universities too. Still, I hope he champions better terms for India's borrowing and more equitable voting rights at the Bank.
Great appointment. He's been a consistent voice on infrastructure-led growth and capital markets development. With global uncertainty around interest rates and debt, we need someone sharp at the World Bank table. His tenure at TRAI and UIDAI also gives him policy depth. 🚀
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.