Eminent economist and former Union minister YK Alagh passes away

Former Union minister and eminent economist Yoginder K Alagh passed away at his home in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, reported The Indian Express.

Alagh was also an emeritus professor at the Ahmedabad-based Sardar Patel Institute of Economic and Social Research.

"He was not keeping well for the last couple of months. But his condition deteriorated in the last 20-25 days. He passed away at home. His last rites will be held this evening at the Thaltej crematorium," The Indian Express quoted his son Professor Munish Alagh as saying.


Born in Chakwal (in present-day Pakistan) in 1939, Yoginder K Alagh studied at the University of Rajasthan and later got a doctorate degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. He taught economics at prestigious Indian and foreign universities, including IIM-Calcutta, and also functioned as the vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi.

From 1996-98, Alagh served as the minister of power, planning, and programme implementation in the Government of India. He was also a member of the Planning Commission.