Former ISRO Chief S Somnath Appointed to RBI Central Board

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.

Somanath’s appointment is effective immediately, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He retired as ISRO chairman in January 2025.

The government has also reappointed Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra as a part-time, non-official director on the RBI Central Board for another four-year term, from immediate effect.

Somanath has held several positions in India’s space programme during his career and served as ISRO chairman until his retirement. He was later appointed chancellor of Chanakya University near Bengaluru.

Mahindra was first appointed to the RBI Central Board in June 2022. Under the RBI Act, directors nominated under the relevant provision can serve for four years and may be reappointed, subject to a maximum of two terms or eight years.

Other members of the RBI Central Board include RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, Deputy Governors Swaminathan J, Poonam Gupta, S C Murmu and Rohit Jain, along with government officials and other non-official directors.