B. N. Adarkar (1910–1998) was an Indian economist and central banker who served as a Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He is generally counted among the short-tenure governors of the institution, having held the office in an acting capacity during a transitional period in Indian central banking.
| Name | B. N. Adarkar |
|---|---|
| Born | 1910 |
| Died | 1998 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Economist, central banker |
| Known for | Serving as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India |
Adarkar belonged to the generation of Indian economists who entered public service in the decades surrounding independence, a period in which the country was building its institutions of economic policy and monetary management. Professionals of this cohort typically combined academic training in economics with long careers in government and the central bank.
Adarkar's career culminated in his appointment as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. The RBI, established in 1935 and headquartered in Mumbai, is India's central banking institution and is responsible for monetary policy, currency issuance, and the regulation of the banking system. As Governor, Adarkar held the highest executive position in this institution.
Holding the office of Governor of the Reserve Bank of India places Adarkar within the line of senior policymakers who shaped the framework of Indian monetary and banking policy in the post-independence era. The position is among the most consequential in Indian economic administration, with responsibilities spanning currency stability, banking supervision, and advice to the Government of India on macroeconomic matters.