Montek Singh Ahluwalia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission
In office 6 July 2004 – 26 May 2014
Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh
Preceded by	K.C. Pant
Succeeded by	Post abolished Arvind Panagariya as Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog
Personal details
Born	(1943-11-24) 24 November 1943 (age 81) Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, British India (modern-day Punjab, Pakistan)
Spouse	Isher Judge Ahluwalia (until her death in 2020)
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Delhi (B.A.) University of Oxford (M.A., M.Phil.)
Profession	Economist Civil servant

Montek Singh Ahluwalia (born 24 November 1943) is a well-known Indian economist and civil servant. He served as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India. This important role was similar to that of a Cabinet Minister. He left this position in May 2014. Before that, he was the first director of the Independent Evaluation Office at the International Monetary Fund.

Early Life and Learning

Montek Singh Ahluwalia was born in Rawalpindi in 1943. His father, Jagmohan Singh, worked for the Defence Accounts Department. Montek went to school at St. Patrick's High School, Secunderabad and Delhi Public School, Mathura Road.

He earned his first degree, a B.A. (Hons), from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, which is part of the University of Delhi. He then received a special scholarship called the Rhodes scholarship. This allowed him to study at the University of Oxford in England. There, he earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree. While at Oxford, he was also the president of the Oxford Union, a famous debating society.

He has received several honorary degrees. These are special titles given to people for their achievements. For example, he received one from the University of Oxford.

His Career Journey

After finishing his studies at Oxford, Ahluwalia started working at the World Bank in 1968. The World Bank helps countries around the world with their development. At just 28 years old, he became a "Division Chief." This made him one of the youngest people in such a high position there. He was in charge of a division that looked at how income was shared in different countries.

In 1979, he returned to India. He became an Economic Adviser in the Ministry of Finance. Over the years, he held many important government jobs. These included being a special secretary to the Prime Minister and the Finance Secretary.

In 1998, he became a Member of the Planning Commission. This group helped plan India's economic future. In 2001, he was chosen to lead a new office at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF is an organization that works to keep the global economy stable. His office checked how well the IMF was doing its job.

In June 2004, he came back to India to become the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. In this role, he helped create two important plans for India's growth. These plans aimed for faster and more inclusive growth for everyone.

Ahluwalia has written many articles about India's economy. He also co-authored a book called "Redistribution with Growth" in 1974. His writings often discuss India's economic changes and how to make growth fair for all people.

In 2011, he received the Padma Vibhushan. This is India's second-highest civilian award. The President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Patil, presented him with this honor.

In 2020, he published his book, Backstage: The Story Behind India’s High Growth Years. The book shares his personal thoughts and India's economic history. It also includes his ideas on important topics like education and rural development.

Today, he is a Distinguished Fellow at a research center in New Delhi. In 2021, he joined a special advisory group. This group was formed by the IMF and World Bank. It helps deal with big challenges like climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Family Life

Montek Singh Ahluwalia was married to Isher Judge Ahluwalia, who was also an economist. They had two sons, Pawan Ahluwalia and Aman Ahluwalia.

Awards and Recognitions

The President Pratibha Devisingh Patil presenting the Padma Vibhushan Award to Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, at an Investiture Ceremony II, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on April 01, 2011