Suman Bery succeeds Rajiv Kumar as Niti Aayog's VC; to take charge from May 1

The government on Friday designated Suman K Bery as the vice-chairman of Niti Aayog, following the resignation of Rajiv Kumar. Bery will take charge of the government's think tank from May 1, 2022, according to an official order. Kumar's tenure will end on April 30. 

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has accepted "the resignation of Dr. Rajiv Kumar and is relieving him from the post of the Vice-Chairperson, NITI Aayog w.e.f. 30.04.2022," the official order said. Kumar took over as vice-chairman of Niti Aayog in August 2017 after the then VC Arvind Panagariya's resignation to return to academics.

According to the order, Kumar's resignation has been accepted and he would be relieved from the post with effect from April 30.

Also Read: NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar to step down

Kumar played a key role in Niti Aayog's policymaking, with focus on agriculture, asset monetisation, disinvestment, aspirational districts programme and electric vehicles, among others.

Kumar holds a DPhil in economics from Oxford University and a PhD from Lucknow University. He was also a senior fellow at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR).

Bery had earlier served as Director-General (Chief Executive) of the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), New Delhi.

He was also a member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, Statistical Commission and the Reserve Bank of India's Technical Advisory Committee on Monetary Policy.

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