NCAER announces search for its next Director General

The Governing Board of the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has initiated the selection process for a new Director General following Dr. Poonam Gupta’s appointment as the RBI Deputy Governor. Under Dr. Gupta’s leadership, NCAER has undergone a successful transformation, emerging as a more networked institution with enhanced capabilities in policy research, outreach and project execution. NCAER seeks to find a candidate who will build on its long-standing legacy of policy impact.

NCAER – ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

India’s largest and oldest economic research and policy think tank, NCAER, was established in 1956. The vision behind NCAER’s establishment was of a newly independent country needing neutral institutions to serve as sounding boards for the government and the private sector. In 1959, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone for the present campus. In 2013, Dr Manmohan Singh, while laying the foundation stone for the new buildings, suggested that public-private institutions like NCAER ensure economics is both “light-bearing” and “fruit-bearing”.

NCAER’s Governing Board is chaired by Mr Nandan M. Nilekani (Infosys) and includes Mr Mukesh Ambani (Reliance), Mr Deepak Parekh (ex-HDFC), Mr Sanjeev Puri (ITC), Ms Falguni Nayar (Nykaa), Mr Sandeep Singhal (WestBridge), Mr Anil Rai Gupta (Havells), Mr Manish Sabharwal (Teamlease), Ms Ireena Vittal (ex-McKinsey) and Ms Anuradha Thakur (Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance).

NCAER currently has 103 research staff members, of whom 40 hold PhDs. Its flagship products include the annual India Policy Forum (the country’s longest-running policy conference, now jointly with NITI Aayog and the World Bank), the India Human Development Survey (India’s longest non-government panel survey data, in collaboration with the University of Maryland), and the States Economic Forum (jointly with NITI Aayog).

NCAER’s – FOCUS AREAS

For over 69 years, NCAER has upheld its core promise: asking the right questions, gathering robust evidence, conducting rigorous analysis, and sharing insights widely. As India enters one of its boldest and most ambitious phases of economic growth, NCAER is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping growth-oriented policymaking. Today, it operates across the following thematic areas:

• National Growth and Macroeconomic Centre;
• Human Development and Data Innovation Centre;
• Investor Education and Protection Fund Chair Unit;
• Computable General Equilibrium Modelling and Policy Analysis Unit;
• States, Sectors, Surveys, and Impact Evaluation Unit;
• Agriculture, Trade, Technology, and Skills Unit;
• Centre for Health Policy and Systems; and
• Centre for Gender and Macroeconomy

India’s next wave of reforms requires a shift from macroeconomics to microeconomics, from the bird’s-eye view of fiscal and monetary policy to the worm’s-eye view of daily life issues faced by participants in healthcare, education, finance, skills, gender, logistics, agriculture, manufacturing, and employment. NCAER proposes to advocate for this shift through rigorous, relevant and credible policy research that participates in the battle for ideas.

For more information, refer to NCAER’s Annual Reports, research outputs, and other details at www.ncaer.org

DIRECTOR GENERAL – ROLE SPECIFICATION

The Director General serves as the Chief Executive Officer of NCAER and reports to its Governing Board, of which he/she is also an ex-officio member. This position is based in New Delhi and carries a four-year term, which can be renewed based on performance and institutional requirements. The NCAER Governing Body seeks a leader to uphold the institution’s proud legacy of respected and influential leadership, guide its research agenda for decades ahead, and advance its tradition of relevance, excellence, and impact.

Over the decades, NCAER has been staffed by distinguished leaders who have gone on to make significant contributions to India’s economic governance. These include Mr Suman Bery, current Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, Dr. Rakesh Mohan and Dr. Subir Gokarn, former Deputy Governors of the Reserve Bank of India, Mr SL Rao, former Chairman of Central Electricity Regulator and many others.

Key Responsibilities:

Ideal Experience and Qualifications

• Cross-Sectoral Exposure
  At least 20 years of experience and a strong track record in economic research, public policy, applied economics or a related field in one or more of the following institutions
  • Academia, think tanks, research institutions;
  • Multilateral and international organizations;
  • Government or Regulatory institutions; and
  • Indian or Multinational Private Sector organisations (Financial institutions, consulting firms, corporates)
• Institutional Leadership
  • Experience in leading research institutions or large programmes with interdisciplinary teams, guiding long-term agendas, and delivering credible, independent output aligned with policy and institutional priorities.
• Thought Leadership and Market Credibility
  • Demonstrated thought leadership and a public voice in the domain of applied economics and policy.
  • Track record of engagement with senior policymakers and government officials.
• Fundraising and Partnerships
  • Proven ability to build strategic, long-term relationships with philanthropic institutions, government, multilaterals, and the private sector to mobilise institutional funding and support.
• Values and Purpose Alignment
  • Demonstrated commitment to India’s long-term growth and to the principles of non-partisan, public-interest research that informs inclusive and sustainable policymaking.
• Educational Background
  • Advanced degree in economics or a related discipline

Application Process

Applications and nominations for this position can be submitted by email to Search Committee 2025 (searchcommittee2025@ncaer.org) until August 15, 2025 and should include:

• A comprehensive resume, with an optional list of at most five chosen links to websites, publications, and profiles that best represent the candidate.
• A 750-word cover letter on the suitability of the candidate for this position and vision for NCAER over the next decade.

All initial applications and nominations will be acknowledged. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further engagement. The NCAER Governing Board reserves the right to fill the position through a direct invitation if deemed appropriate.