Bibek Debroy, economist and Chairman of PM’s Economic Advisory Council, passes away

Renowned economist and Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC-PM), Dr. Bibek Debroy, passed away at the age of 69, on Friday.

Known for his profound understanding of economic theory and policy, Debroy was instrumental in shaping key economic strategies and reforms in recent years.

Also Read: Bibek Debroy, the economist who once created a furore with proposal to tax farmers


Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled Debroy's death. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, "Dr. Bibek Debroy Ji was a towering scholar, well-versed in diverse domains like economics, history, culture, politics, spirituality and more. Through his works, he left an indelible mark on India’s intellectual landscape."

"Beyond his contributions to public policy, he enjoyed working on our ancient texts, making them accessible to the youth," the post further read.


As a trusted advisor to the government, Debroy provided valuable insights on macroeconomic issues, including fiscal policy, employment, and public sector management. His work was widely respected, not only within India but also on the global stage, where he was known for his commitment to fostering economic growth and stability.

Beyond his economic expertise, Debroy was a prolific writer and a scholar of Indian epics, contributing translations and works that shed light on India’s cultural heritage.

Bibek Debroy's education, career

Dr. Bibek Debroy was an economist and was educated in Ramakrishna Mission School, Narendrapur; Presidency College, Kolkata; Delhi School of Economics and Trinity College, Cambridge.

He was serving as the Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, Government of India. He had worked in Presidency College, Kolkata (1979-83), Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune (1983-87); Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi (1987-93).

Debroy had also worked as the Director of a Ministry of Finance/UNDP project on legal reforms (1993-98); Department of Economic Affairs (1994-95): National Council of Applied Economic Research (1995-96); Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies ( 1997-2005); PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (2005-06); and Centre for Policy Research (2007-2015).

Dr. Debroy was also a member of NITI Aayog till June 2019. He has authored/edited several books, papers and popular articles and was also a Consulting/Contributing Editor with several newspapers.