Who is India's most powerful bureaucrat?

It has long been recognised that while iconic figures stride across the political field talking of big change, it is the bureaucracy whose work endures. With September figures riding to 5.49 per cent, an abrupt spurt from August’s 3.65 per cent, we can see why India needs his conservatism more than cavalier tailspinners Because he has kept up a tight vigil on banks, preventing risk escalation in the financial system, controlling unbridled growth in consumer loans and instituting board-monitored processes to curtail adventurism Mr Polyglot: Bhubaneswar-born but an IAS officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre, Das is also conversant in Tamil, besides mother tongue Odia, Hindi and English 4. SOMANATHAN, 59, Cabinet Secretary of India FIRST AMONG EQUALS Because the erudite and industrious former finance secretary, now India’s topmost serving bureaucrat, has been sent out to bat as a sheet anchor for Modi 3.0—one who can simultaneously keep an eye on the reforms run-rate as well as ensure that no wickets fall with flagship social sector schemes. Coming into the chair in May 2023, beginning a particularly fraught year, the ex-Karnataka DGP caught a time when the CBI’s political edge was getting keener Because his sharp internal administration and proactive helmsmanship have kept the agency shipshape—and the urgent call for “a CBI probe” is still heard from all dimly-lit crime scenes in India that need the last word to be spoken Field job: An IIT Delhi grad and avid golfer, he’s known for being hands-on. Like running the national asset monetisation programme—for brownfield core infrastructure assets in 10 sectors, including roads and power—with a four-year target of Rs 6 lakh crore by FY25 Because he leads the powerful climate change group of experts to create a green map for India that will enable it to achieve its net zero emissions target by 2070 Because he has been tasked with setting up a frontier tech hub to chalk out a pathway for India to become a global leader in AI Because he has set up a programme to work out how India could become an integral part of the global value chain Because he is working with 12 chief ministers to come out with vision documents for their states Because he is the go-to person for unclogging FDI issues involving partnerships with Saudi Arabia and the UK Because he is the point man for preparing and driving the PM’s vision for Viksit Bharat@2047 Devout at duty: He has the rare distinction of having worked with both the Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi PMOs; starts his day with puja 9.