November 1, 2024 – Bibek Debroy, distinguished economist and Chairman of Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC-PM), passed way today, November 1, at the age of 69. AIIMS Delhi released the news of his demise saying Debroy had passed away today at 7:00 am owing to intestinal obstruction.

Hospital sources said he was admitted to the AIIMS emergency around 10:00 pm on Thursday and died at 7:00 am on Friday.

PM Narendra Modi paid condolence to Debroy on social media calling him a “towering scholar.”

"Dr Bibek Debroy Ji was a towering scholar, well-versed in diverse domains like economics, history, culture, politics, spirituality and more. Through his works, he left an indelible mark on India's intellectual landscape. Beyond his contributions to public policy, he enjoyed working on our ancient texts, making them accessible to the youth," the PM posted on social media.

“I have known Dr Debroy for many years. I will fondly remember his insights and passion for academic discourse. Saddened by his passing away. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti,” he wrote.

Debroy had been the EAC chairman since September 2017. He was also a Member of NITI Aayog up to June 5, 2019.

A Padma Shri awardee which he received in 2015, Debroy earlier served as the Chancellor of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) in Pune. He was also the chairman of the Finance Ministry's 'Expert Committee for Infrastructure Classification and Financing Framework for Amrit Kaal. He has written/edited several books, papers and articles and also been a consulting/contributing editor with several publications.

The renowned economist was educated in Ramakrishna Mission School (Narendrapur), Presidency College (Kolkata), Delhi School of Economics and Trinity College, Cambridge. He had worked in Presidency College, Kolkata; Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune; Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi; and also served as the director of a Ministry of Finance/UNDP project on legal reforms.