Good morning, Sri Shaktikanta Das, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India and former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, let me extend a very warm welcome to all of you for joining us for a session with one of India's most transformative central bankers and distinguished economic administrator, Shri Shaktikanta Das. It is indeed a privilege to have you here today with us, Mr. Das. We're grateful to you for sparing your valuable time to address IMA's National Leadership Conclave. We've all witnessed your stellar contribution over a long and distinguished career in public service, stewarding some of the most challenging roles in India's economic governance.
Today, as a Principal Secretary to the Honorable Prime Minister, we can well appreciate the tremendous spectrum of issues you need to guide as the Honorable Prime Minister plays an even more visionary role on the global stage and as a strong voice of the Global South while spearheading the country's progress towards a Viksit Bharat. In your earlier tenure as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, you guided the country's central banking response to the pandemic. The reduction in the pivotal interest rates during this critical period stabilized the economy by easing liquidity while ensuring financial stability. You also kept a hawk's eye on the management of inflation in the post-pandemic phase and advanced India's financial modernization through the introduction of the digital rupee, strengthening of the digital payment ecosystem, amongst many other initiatives.
Your contribution to public policy has also extended across several important assignments. These include your role as Secretary of Economic Affairs, Revenue Secretary, Secretary in the Department of Fertilizers, India's Sherpa to G20, and as a member of the 15th Finance Commission. Over the years, you have rightly earned wide recognition for your stewardship at the highest levels of central banking. You are ranked amongst the world's top central bankers by the Global Finance magazine in 2024, received A+ ratings in the Global Finance Central Bankers Report Cards, and named Governor of the Year by Central Banking in 2023. It is indeed IMA's privilege to have you with us on its platform, and we look forward to hearing your insightful views on India's economic prospects and strategic direction at a time of profound global change.
Ladies and gentlemen, as I said also in the earlier session, the world is passing through a phase of deep structural churn. I call this turbulence, uncertainty, rapid change, necessitating novel strategies. And it is in this background that India's progress towards Atmanirbhar Bharat acquires particular significance. Over the decade, India has demonstrated remarkable economic resilience. A combination of fiscal discipline, monetary stability, and purposeful policy interventions has enabled Indian business to withstand external shocks and helped the country to sustain growth amid global uncertainty.
In a world of fragmenting supply chains and shifting trade alignments, India will now need to deepen domestic capabilities in critical sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, technology, and energy security. The task ahead is not only to address the challenges of disruption but to convert uncertainties into strategic opportunities. India's focus on building strong bridges of relationships with different nations, manifest in the pursuit of FTAs and deeper economic cooperation, is vital in expanding market access, integrating with trusted value chains, and positioning the country more strongly in the global economy. This is indeed India's moment. The country's opportunity today is not merely to be seen as an alternative destination in a disrupted world, but to emerge as an indispensable economic force on its own right, as a market of scale, a trusted manufacturing base, a powerhouse of innovation and digital acceleration, and a stabilizing presence in an increasingly uncertain global landscape.
In this context, it's particularly apt that we'll now hear from a leader deeply engaged with India's economic journey. We look forward to hearing your insights on the theme 'Turning Turbulence into Triumph: India's Journey Through the Crisis.' With these words, may I now welcome Dr. Das to deliver his keynote address.
