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RSS ideologue, Swadeshi Jagran Manch convenor S Gurumurthy is RBI Director

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8 years ago

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RSS ideologue, Swadeshi Jagran Manch convenor S Gurumurthy is RBI Director

The Modi government on Tuesday, August 7, appointed S Gurumurthy – the editor of Thuglak and a chartered accountant who is also convener of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), an outfit affiliated to the right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) – to the board of the Reserve Bank of India.

The Centre also approved the appointment of Satish Marathe, a banking industry executive with decades of experience, founder of Sahakar Bharati, an NGO that works to support cooperatives and a former member of RSS and BJP’s student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), to the RBI’s board.

Both Marathe and Gururmurthy will serve as “part-time non-official directors” on the RBI’s central board and will have a four-year term.

“The Appointments Committee Of The Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Department of Financial Services for the appointment of Shri Swaminathan Gurumurthy, as part-time non-official director on the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India under Section 8(1)(c) of the RBI Act 1934, for a period of four years from the date of notification of the appointment…,” said the government notification.

The RBI board has official and non-official directors. Officials directors include the RBI’s governor and not more than four deputy governors. Non-official directors are appointed by the government, with the RBI Act allowing for up to ten directors to be nominated.

Generally speaking, in the past, non-official directors have included people without publicly-declared political leanings, said media reports. The appointment of non-official directors usually include well-known economists, experts, captains of industry in addition to two government officials.

The candidates appointed in the present case, however, have clear political leanings. While Gurumurthy is an economist, chartered accountant and a longtime commentator on economic and political affairs, he is also a prominent supporter of the current BJP government at the Centre and of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Marathe, on the other hand, has had stints at Bank of India, the United Western Bank Ltd, Janakalyan Sahakari Bank among others over the last 20 years and is the founder of Sahakar Bharati, an NGO that works to support cooperatives. His focus and experience has been on cooperative banks and their impact on the rural and agricultural sector.

In his younger days, Marathe was associated with the right-wing ABVP, a large pan-India student organisation that is affiliated to the RSS. According to media reports, he served as the ABVP’s treasurer for four years.

Gurumurthy is part of a small group of swadeshi economics thinkers whose views are given considerable importance by Modi and key finance ministry bureaucrat Hasmukh Adhia, reported The Wire. These proponents of ‘economic nationalism’ are generally opposed to foreign capital and businesses and instead believe that India’s 50-million small and medium businesses can create jobs and transform the Indian economy.

Gurmurthy is believed to have played an important role in suggesting and supporting the Modi government’s demonetisation move, its MUDRA scheme and the Niti Aayog’s position of focusing on a “Bharatiya approach to development”.

India Today magazine ranked him at number 30 in India’s 50 Most powerful people of 2017 list. S Gurumurthy has never contested any election so far.

S Gurumurthy is also said to have advocated the replacement of the Planning Commission with a new body, like the NITI Aayog favouring an Indian approach to development, according to a report in The Indian Express.

After reportedly providing consultation on demonetisation before it happened, Gurumurthy defended the move, calling it a much-needed attack on excessive liquidity and a “fundamental corrective to the economy”, The Wire report said.

In his long career, Gurumurthy has written and spoken on monetary policy, jobs, RBI and such macro-economic issues, including why Raghuram Rajan was not given a second term.

In September 2017, he criticised the Central bank’s provisioning norms, noting that it did not take into account “non-convertibility, no foreign investments in banks, govt ownership and 30% deposits being in government securities”. He lashed out at RBI, noting that it was “agenda-driven” and trying to destroy Indian business.

The RBI’s central board is not normally a decision-making body and instead serves as a forum or venue for discussion. However, it does serve as a platform for important public-facing decisions such as demonetisation or a move to change the central bank’s dividend policy.

Other policy decisions, such as interest rate cuts, are handled by the separate monetary policy committee.

With these appointments, the Modi government has filled its quota of ten directors to RBI’s board.

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Amit Shah praises Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, says Nation above post

Amit Shah hailed Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as Union Education Minister, saying BJP places the nation and students above any position while highlighting the government’s commitment to examination reforms.

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17 hours ago

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July 26, 2026

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Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday praised Dharmendra Pradhan’s decision to step down as Union Education Minister, saying the move reflected the Bharatiya Janata Party’s commitment to placing the nation and students above any political position.

In a post on X, Shah said that for BJP workers, the country, its youth and students are more important than any office. He described Pradhan’s resignation as an example of the party’s guiding principle of prioritising national interest over personal ambition.

Shah highlights government’s focus on exam reforms

Amit Shah said the Narendra Modi-led government respects the sentiments of students and remains committed to strengthening the examination system following concerns over alleged paper leaks.

He said the Centre has introduced strict measures to ensure severe punishment for those involved in examination paper leaks and expressed confidence that these steps would deliver justice to students who cleared the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Praises Pradhan’s work as Education Minister

Recalling Dharmendra Pradhan’s tenure, Shah highlighted several initiatives undertaken during his time in the Education Ministry. He credited Pradhan with helping implement the National Education Policy (NEP), expanding PM SHRI schools, promoting digital education, strengthening skill development and improving coordination between industry and academic institutions.

Shah also said Pradhan worked towards making examinations more inclusive and student-centric, adding that his tenure reflected his commitment to the vision of a developed India.

Resignation follows NEET controversy

Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation comes amid nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and growing demands for accountability.

The resignation has triggered political reactions across party lines. While opposition parties have described the development as a result of sustained student protests, BJP leaders have projected it as an example of accountability and commitment to national interest.

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Assam flood death toll rises to 66, over 6.5 lakh people still affected

Assam’s flood situation improved slightly on Saturday, but more than 6.54 lakh people remain affected in six districts. Four fresh deaths have pushed the state’s flood toll to 66.

Published

18 hours ago

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July 26, 2026

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Assam floods

The flood situation in Assam showed marginal improvement on Saturday, though the disaster continued to impact more than 6.54 lakh people across six districts. Four more deaths were reported during the day, taking the total number of fatalities in this year’s floods to 66.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), three of the latest deaths were reported from Sivasagar district, while one person lost their life in Charaideo.

The number of affected people declined from over 7.05 lakh across nine districts on Friday to 6,54,800 across six districts on Saturday, indicating a gradual improvement in the overall situation.

Sivasagar remains the worst-hit district

Among the affected districts, Sivasagar continues to be the worst hit, with nearly 2.9 lakh people impacted by the floods. Charaideo follows with around 1.9 lakh affected residents, while more than 1.3 lakh people remain affected in Jorhat.

The other districts still facing flood-related challenges are Dibrugarh, Golaghat and Nagaon.

Relief operations continue across affected areas

The ASDMA said the state administration is operating 274 relief camps and aid distribution centres across the affected districts. Around 18,902 displaced people are currently taking shelter at these facilities.

The latest daily bulletin also stated that floodwaters have inundated 810 villages across the state, while 34,970.8 hectares of agricultural land have suffered damage.

Rivers flowing above danger level

The floods have also damaged embankments, roads, bridges and other public infrastructure in several areas.

Authorities said the Dikhou River in Sivasagar and the Dhansiri River at Numaligarh are flowing above the danger level, and officials continue to closely monitor the situation.

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UP Government forms new SIT led by 3 IPS officers to probe Ayodhya Ram Temple donation theft

The Uttar Pradesh government has formed a new SIT led by three IPS officers to investigate the alleged Ram Temple donation theft case in Ayodhya following Supreme Court directions.

Published

18 hours ago

on

July 26, 2026

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Ram Mandir

The Uttar Pradesh government has reconstituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by IG Kiran S, with DIG Somen Verma and SSP Dr Gaurav Grover as members, to investigate the alleged theft of donations meant for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. 

The move comes after directions from the Supreme Court, which sought a reconstituted investigation team to ensure an independent and comprehensive probe into the allegations.

The newly formed SIT is expected to continue the investigation and submit a status report before the Supreme Court on July 27.

Senior IPS officers to lead the probe

According to the state government, the investigation will now be supervised by senior IPS officers.  The revamped SIT has been tasked with examining all aspects of the alleged embezzlement of temple donations and carrying the investigation forward.

The Supreme Court had observed that criminal investigations and technical examination of theft-related cases are more effectively handled by experienced police officers, leading to the reconstitution of the SIT under senior IPS leadership.

Probe to continue under court supervision

The case relates to the alleged embezzlement of offerings (chadhava) donated by devotees at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.

The Supreme Court is monitoring the investigation and will review the SIT’s status report at the next hearing.

Authorities are expected to continue examining evidence collected during the earlier stages of the investigation as the newly constituted SIT proceeds with the case.

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