Former NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya Appointed Chief Of 16th Finance Commission

A government order, issued on Sunday, notified the formation of the 16th Finance Commission and named Panagariya as its chief. It added that Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey will be the Secretary to the commission.

The order also said that a notification would be issued separately for the appointment of other panel members.

"The Chairman and other members of the Commission shall hold office from the date on which they respectively assume office up to the date of submission of Report or 31st day of October, 2025, whichever is earlier," the order stated.

Panagariya is currently a professor at Columbia University.

In 2014, the economist was appointed Vice Chairman of the Niti Aayog, formerly the Planning Commission of India. In August 2017, he announced his surprise exit from the Niti Aayog after a two-year tenure.

At the time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had praised Panagariya, saying he had shown “how work is done in mission mode”. “He has done good work and the country will always remember him and his contribution," PM Modi said.