New Delhi: Economist and chairman of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic advisory council Bibek Debroy passed away on Friday due to intestinal obstruction. He was 69.
According to reports, he was admitted to the emergency department of AIIMS-Delhi at 10 pm on Thursday. “Bibek Debroy passed away today at 7 am due to intestinal obstruction,” the hospital sources said.
A recipient of the Padma Shri, Debroy had resigned in September this year as chancellor of Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) in Pune after the Bombay High Court extended interim relief to Vice-Chancellor Ajit Ranade, who had previously been dismissed from his position.
He was also the chairperson of finance ministry’s ‘expert committee for infrastructure classification and financing framework for Amrit Kaal’ and a key member of the Niti Aayog until 2019. A year after receiving the Padma Shri, he was recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the US-India Business Summit in 2016.
Mourning his death, the Prime Minister described him as a “towering scholar”. “Through his works, he left an indelible mark on India’s intellectual landscape,” PM Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Modi highlighted Debroy’s dedication to making India’s ancient texts accessible to younger generations and praised his unique approach to public policy and academia. “I will fondly remember his insights and passion for academic discourse,” he added.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that Debroy’s contributions to governance and policy making were enormous. “Equally, his exceptional talents were harnessed to make our culture, history and traditions accessible to many generations. Remembering a dedicated reformer, great nationalist, an erudite scholar and a wonderful friend,” he posted on X.