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Newsmakers of the Week MARCH 20, 2026 | The Indian Eye 31

NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK

Selected stories about Indian diaspora from our website www.theindianeye.com

KV SUBRAMANIAN TARANJIT SINGH SANDHU

University of Chicago honors Former Indian Envoy appointed

economist with Alumni Award Lieutenant Governor of Delhi

hicago, IL: The University of Chicago has honoured Professor Krish-
namurthy V. Subramanian with the Alumni Award for Professional
CAchievement, making him the first Indian economist to receive the dis- ew Delhi: Former Indian Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit
Singh Sandhu, on Friday expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister
tinction in the award’s 85-year history, according to an official press release. NNarendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah after he was appointed
Subramanian, who served as the 17th Chief Economic Adviser to the
Government of India from 2018 to 2021 and as an Executive Director at the the new Lieutenant Governor of Delhi (LG).
In an X post, Sandhu said that he is committed to serving the people in
International Monetary Fund, is the first Indian economist to receive the hon- the national capital with dedication and humility.
our since it was established in 1941. “I express my heartfelt gratitude to the most revered Prime Minister Na-
Reacting to the achievement, Professor Subramanian stated, “To be in-
cluded in this academic lineage is profoundly humbling. What makes it mean- rendra Modi, who has provided me the opportunity to serve the people of
Delhi as Lieutenant Governor. His leadership and visionary guidance have
ingful is that this is recognition for work done from India and for India. To always been a source of inspiration. I am also grateful for the trust and guid-
follow, in my modest way, the inspiring footsteps of Indians who did their ance of the Home Minister Amit Shah. I am committed to serving the people
finest work based in India, from C. V. Raman and Homi J. Bhabha to Vikram of Delhi and the nation with dedication, loyalty, and humility,” Sandhu wrote.
Sarabhai and M. S. Swaminathan, is a genuine privilege.” President Droupadi Murmu has effected a major administrative reshuffle
The award places him among a distinguished group of past recipients that
includes at least 14 Nobel laureates and global thought leaders such as Paul of Governors and Lieutenant Governors across the country on Thursday, just
ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. In the reshuffle, Taranjit Singh
Samuelson, Gary Becker, Claudia Goldin, Carl Sagan, and Philip Kotler, the Sandhu replaced VK Saxena, who has now been appointed as the Ladakh LG.
release added. According to the University’s official citation, Professor Subra- Taranjit Sandhu was also a BJP candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
manian’s Economic Surveys of India were described as a “landmark” document Additionally, senior leader Nand Kishore Yadav has been appointed as
that provided “the intellectual foundation for India’s approach to self-reliance, Nagaland Governor, and Lieutenant General (Retired) Syed Ata Hasnain
anchored in competitive markets, policy autonomy, and inclusive growth”. has been named Governor of Bihar.
The citation also credits his early diagnosis of the COVID-19 crisis as a
Bihar Minister Deepak Prakash congratulated Nand Kishore Yadav
supply-side disruption and notes that his public articulation of a V-shaped and Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain. Prakash said, “I congratulate him
economic recovery “helped anchor confidence in India’s economic resil- (Hasnain). His tenure will focus on Bihar’s progress and development, and
ience”, the release stated. how he can assist the Bihar government in this regard... I also congratulate
Significantly, the work recognised by this award was undertaken predomi-
nantly from India and for India, unlike many prior honourees whose work was him (Nand Kishore Yadav). He will now be in a new role.”
In other key changes, Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla
primarily based in Western academic institutions. has been named Governor of Telangana, while Telangana Governor Jishnu
During his tenure as Chief Economic Adviser, Subramanian authored
three Economic Surveys and contributed to macroeconomic strategy during Dev Varma has been transferred to serve as Governor of Maharashtra.
Furthermore, Kavinder Gupta, the outgoing Lieutenant Governor of La-
one of the most volatile periods in modern global economic history. His sub- dakh, has been appointed Governor of Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala Gov-
sequent role at the IMF further extended India’s policy perspective into mul- ernor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will discharge the additional functions of
tilateral economic discourse, the release added. the Governor of Tamil Nadu.
With this honour, Subramanian has now received distinguished alumnus
awards from all three of his alma maters: the Indian Institute of Technology Kan-
pur, the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, and the University of Chicago. To read more about Indian diaspora and Global Indians, log on to and follow
He currently serves as a Professor of Finance at the Indian School of our website www.TheIndianEYE.com
Business and is the author of “India@100”.

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