Somanath has been appointed for a four-year term, while Anand Mahindra has been reappointed to the RBI Central Board for another four years.
The government has appointed former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath as a part-time, non-official director on the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a four-year term.
The appointment takes effect immediately and will continue until the end of the four-year period or until further orders, whichever comes earlier.
S Somanath joins RBI Central Board.
Somanath brings decades of experience in India’s space programme to the RBI board. He served as ISRO chairman until his retirement in January 2025, overseeing the organisation during a period that included several major space missions and technological developments.
After retiring from ISRO, he was appointed chancellor of Chanakya University near Bengaluru.
His new role at the RBI adds his experience in science, technology, large-scale project management and public institutions to the central bank’s broader governance structure.
Anand Mahindra gets another term.
The government has also reappointed Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group, as a part-time, non-official director on the RBI Central Board.
Mahindra’s new four-year term begins immediately. He was first appointed to the board in June 2022.
Under the RBI Act, directors appointed under the relevant provision can serve for four years and may be reappointed, subject to a maximum of two terms or eight years.
Who else is on the RBI Central Board?
The Central Board is headed by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra and includes Deputy Governors Swaminathan J, Poonam Gupta, S C Murmu and Rohit Jain.
The board also includes government representatives and other non-official directors.
Somanath’s appointment brings a senior figure from India’s space and scientific establishment into the RBI’s top governance body, while Mahindra’s reappointment provides continuity from his first term.
Together, the appointments add both institutional experience and private-sector leadership to the RBI Central Board.
Dr. S. Somanath – Former ISRO Chief
