Bimal Jalan is a economist and former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He graduated from Presidency College, Calcutta, and continued his education at Cambridge and Oxford universities. Jalan held several important government positions, including Finance Secretary, Banking Secretary, and Chief Economic Adviser. He was also the Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister before becoming Governor of the RBI. He served as Governor from November 1997 to November 2002 and was reappointed for a second term until September 2003. His tenure included managing India's response during the Asian financial crisis and promoting economic reforms and transparency in monetary policy. From 2003 to 2009, Jalan was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, India's Upper House of Parliament. He represented India on the Executive Boards of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank from 2014 to 2016. His academic roles included positions at the Indian Statistical Institute, the Institute of Economic Growth, and the Centre for Development Studies, where he served as Chairman. He was also President of the National Council of Applied Economics and Research. Jalan has written several influential books on India's economic policy, including "India’s Economic Crisis: The Way Ahead" and "The Future of India: Politics, Economics and Governance." His latest work, "The India Story," published in 2021, explores India's economic history and future prospects. Through his extensive career in government and academia, Jalan has significantly contributed to India's economic development and financial reforms, offering valuable insights into the country's economic path.