R. Balasubramaniam, K.V. Raju from Karnataka appointed NITI Aayog members

Development activist and leadership trainer R. Balasubramaniam and economist KV Raju from Karnataka have been appointed as full-time members of NITI Aayog by the Centre. This is the first time that two eminent professionals from the State have been appointed to the policy-making body simultaneously.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is the chairman of NITI Aayog, reconstituted the body by appointing new members. Economist Ashok Lahiri, former BJP MLA from West Bengal, has been appointed as vice president.

Popularly known as Dr. Dr. known as Balu. R Balasubramaniam is a development activist, leadership trainer and author. He has nearly four decades of experience in development and public policy. Dr. Balu holds MBBS and M.Phil in Hospital Management and Health Systems Management from BITS, Pilani. He played a key role in formulating the Karnataka Youth Policy during the BJP government in 2022.

He is the founder of Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement and Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement Mysuru, both of which have promoted community-oriented development and policy advocacy across India.

Dr. Balu also served as member (HR) of the Capacity Building Commission in New Delhi from its inception until April 2026. Dr., a former Rhodes professor at Cornell University in the USA. Balu has conducted leadership workshops in India and abroad and has written several books.

Prof. KV Raju served as economic advisor to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for the last nine years. He was previously economic advisor to the BJP-led government in Karnataka (2008–13). He was a professor at the Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru, and principal scientist at ICRISAT, Hyderabad; visiting research fellow at IFPRI, Washington DC; retired professor from Chanakya University, Bengaluru; and member of the Prime Ministry’s Economic Advisory Council.

He also wrote many books on economics and public policy.