Sanjeev Sanyal appointed new chancellor of Pune’s Gokhale Institute after Bibek Debroy’s exit

Sanyal is also a member of the EAC-PM. Debroy, who is chairperson of EAC-PM, resigned from GIPE chancellorship last week amid controversy over removal of institute’s V-C Ajit Ranade.

File photo of Sanjeev Sanyal | ANI

New Delhi: Indian economist and member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) Sanjeev Sanyal announced Sunday that he had been appointed chancellor of Pune’s Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE). 

This comes days after Bibek Debroy, who is also chairperson of the EAC-PM, resigned from GIPE chancellorship amid an ongoing controversy over the removal of the institute’s vice-chancellor (V-C). 

The 94-year-old institute has been in the spotlight ever since its V-C, economist Ajit Ranade, was dismissed last month after a fact-finding committee of the institute ascertained that his candidacy violated the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations. 

However, Ranade was given interim relief by the Bombay High Court till 23 September, which was later extended by the court till October 7.  

Announcing his appointment on social networking site X, Sanyal said, “This is just to state that I have accepted the Chancellorship of Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune. Look forward to working with faculty, staff and students to build on GIPE’s well-established legacy.” 

This is just to state that I have accepted the Chancellorship of Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune. Look forward to working with faculty, staff and students to build on GIPE's well-established legacy.

— Sanjeev Sanyal (@sanjeevsanyal) October 6, 2024

He further explained the role of a university chancellor as somewhat like that of a “non-executive chairman” whose “duties relate to broad direction and governance rather than the daily running of the institution”. 

“This role does not impact my normal work as a full-time member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council,” he said in his post on X. 

Sanyal was principal economic adviser to the finance minister for five years till February 2022. He has co-authored six economic surveys of the government of India between 2017-20222.

(Edited by Gitanjali Das)