Panagariya resigns from Niti Aayog, will get back to academics

Columbia University, where Panagariya teaches Indian political economy, refused to give any further extension.

Niti Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya on Tuesday said he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to relieve him of his duties by August 31 as he was not getting extension of leave from Columbia University.

The Indian-American economist and professor of Indian Political Economy at Columbia University, Panagariya had joined as the first vice-chairman of the Niti Aayog, which had replaced the Planning Commission, in January 2015.

Talking to reporters, he said the Columbia University was not giving him further extension and he would be leaving Niti Aayog on August 31.

He said that about two months ago he had expressed his desire to the prime minister, who is the chairperson of NITI Aayog.

Panagariya, 64, said the work he was doing at the university would be very difficult to get at his age.

Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters