New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the appointment of Janmejaya Kumar Sinha, Syed Akbaruddin and Annie George Mathew as part-time, non-official directors on its Central Board. The three appointments have been made for a period of four years and are effective from August 24, 2026.
According to an official press release issued on August 24, the appointments were approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on August 22, 2026, based on a proposal from the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance.
Who Are the Newly Appointed RBI Non-Official Directors?
The three new directors bring extensive experience in public finance, financial management, economic policy, international diplomacy, strategy, governance and banking.
Annie George Mathew
Annie George Mathew recently retired as Special Secretary (Expenditure) in the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. She has more than 34 years of experience in public finance, financial management, government audit and accounts, public procurement, including defence capital acquisitions, and human resource management.
Mathew has served as the Government’s nominee on the boards of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and Indian Overseas Bank (IOB). She has also previously served on the Board of State Bank of Hyderabad.
She is an officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS), 1988 batch. During her career, she has gained varied experience in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department through postings in India and abroad.
Annie George Mathew’s Key Experience
- More than 34 years of experience in public finance and financial management.
- Experience in government audit and accounts.
- Worked in public procurement, including defence capital acquisitions.
- Served on the boards of PFRDA and Indian Overseas Bank as the Government’s nominee.
- Previously served on the Board of State Bank of Hyderabad.
- Led audit teams working with international and multilateral organisations.
- Worked on assignments involving the United Nations and UNHCR across Europe, Africa and Asia.
- Served as a member of international committees involved in setting auditing standards.
Her postings in various Accountant General offices, including Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi, have given her a strong understanding of both Union and state finances.
Mathew graduated from Miranda House and completed her postgraduate studies at the University of Delhi before joining the civil services as an IA&AS officer.
Read also: Anand Mahindra Reappointed to RBI Board; Former ISRO Chief S Somanath Gets 4-Year Term
Janmejaya Kumar Sinha
Janmejaya Kumar Sinha is the Chairman of Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) India Practice. He is also a member of BCG’s Henderson Institute Innovation Sounding Board, which focuses on supporting, inspiring and guiding upstream innovation at BCG.
Sinha previously served as Chairman of BCG’s Asia-Pacific region from 2009 to 2018. He was also a member of the firm’s Executive Committee from 2006 to 2018.
He has worked extensively with clients in the US, UK, Asia, Australia and India across several areas, including large-scale organisational transformation, strategy, governance, family business issues and operational turnaround.
Janmejaya Kumar Sinha’s Key Experience
- Chairman of BCG’s India Practice.
- Former Chairman of BCG’s Asia-Pacific region from 2009 to 2018.
- Former member of BCG’s Executive Committee from 2006 to 2018.
- Experience in strategy, governance and organisational transformation.
- Worked on family business issues and operational turnaround.
- Served on committees set up by the Government of India, RBI and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
- Chaired the CII National Committee on Financial Inclusion and Fintech.
- Served on various government and risk committees.
- Was a member of the Committee of Chief Ministers on adoption of digital payments.
Before joining BCG, Sinha worked with the Reserve Bank of India for several years across different departments. He has also briefly worked with the World Bank.
Sinha holds a PhD from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, USA. He also holds BA and MA degrees in Economics from Clare College, Cambridge University, UK, and BA and MA degrees in History from St Stephen’s College, University of Delhi.
Syed Akbaruddin
Syed Akbaruddin is a distinguished Indian diplomat and foreign policy expert with extensive experience in international diplomacy and multilateral engagement.
He served as India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2016 to 2020, where he represented India on key global issues, including peace and security, sustainable development and international cooperation.
Before serving at the United Nations, Akbaruddin held senior positions in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, including the position of Official Spokesperson.
Syed Akbaruddin’s Key Experience
- Served as India’s Permanent Representative to the UN from 2016 to 2020.
- Represented India on issues related to peace and security.
- Worked on sustainable development and international cooperation.
- Held senior positions in the Ministry of External Affairs.
- Served as the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.
- Has extensive experience in international diplomacy and multilateral engagement.
His experience in global diplomacy and foreign policy brings an international and multilateral perspective to the RBI’s Central Board.
Key Details of RBI’s New Appointments
- Janmejaya Kumar Sinha: Chairman, BCG India Practice
- Syed Akbaruddin: Former Indian diplomat and India’s former Permanent Representative to the UN
- Annie George Mathew: Former Special Secretary (Expenditure), Ministry of Finance
- Position: Part-time, non-official directors on the RBI Central Board
- Tenure: Four years
- Effective Date: August 24, 2026
- ACC Approval: August 22, 2026
- Proposal: Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance
About the Reserve Bank of India
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is India’s central bank and is responsible for regulating the country’s banking and financial system. Established in 1935 under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the RBI performs key functions related to monetary policy, currency management, banking regulation, foreign exchange management and maintaining financial stability.
Read also: RBI Appoints Monisha Chakraborty as Executive Director Effective August 3, 2026
