Shaktikanta Das on his to-do list at RBI

The former bureaucrat said he will take measures which the economy requires in a timely manner and as the first step, will meet the heads of public sector banks.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Wednesday said he will try to uphold the autonomy, credibility and the integrity of the "great institution" and take every stakeholder, including the government, along in a consultative manner.

The former bureaucrat, who took over the reins of the Reserve Bank earlier in the day following the resignation of Urjit Patel, said he will take measures which the economy requires in a timely manner and as the first step, will meet the heads of public sector banks.

Addressing media hours after taking over as the 25th Governor of RBI, the former Union finance secretary who was the pointsman for the government during the demonetisation in November 2016, describing the bank as a "great institution".

"I will uphold the autonomy, integrity and credibility of RBI as an institution. I will ensure that it is intact," he said.

"The RBI is a great institution, has a long and rich legacy," he added.

The government is the key stakeholder and the owner which run the nation, he said.

Das parried queries on differences with the government that led to his predecessor's resignation on Monday.

"I wouldn't go into the issues between RBI and government but every institution has to maintain its autonomy and also adhere to accountability," Das said.

"I don't know whether the government-RBI relationship is blocked, but I feel stakeholder consultations have to go on," he said.

On the Parliamentary mandate on RBI as an inflation targeting central bank, he said it's heartening to know that inflation is on target with a benign outlook.

"Inflation targeting is an important function as it is a mandated requirement of RBI now," Das said.

The RBI central board meeting will take place on December 14 as scheduled, he said.

Photograph: PTI Photo