The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), established in 1935, is the apex monetary authority of the country. It plays a central role in regulating India’s financial system, formulating monetary policy, and ensuring economic stability. The Governor of the RBI is the chief executive of the institution and holds a position of significant influence in shaping the country’s economic and financial landscape.

Since its inception, the RBI has had a series of distinguished Governors, each contributing to key reforms, policy measures, and institutional development during their tenure. The list of RBI Governors, their term of office, and their professional backgrounds form an important part of Banking Awareness, Economy, and General Knowledge for aspirants of Banking, SSC, UPSC, Railway, and other government examinations.

This article provides a complete list of RBI Governors of India, detailing their names, tenure, office term, and background. A downloadable PDF (English & Hindi) is also provided for easy revision and exam preparation.

List of RBI Governors of  India PDF 2025 in English

List of RBI Governors of  India PDF 2025 in Hindi

List of RBI Governors of India

Let us have a look at the detailed information of the Reserve Bank of India and the list of RBI Governors of India. 

Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India, located in Mumbai, uses monetary policy to create financial stability and regulates the country’s currency and credit systems.

• The RBI governs the workings of other banks and serves the financial market in many ways. The bank sets the overnight interbank lending rate. 

• The main purpose of the RBI is to conduct consolidated supervision of the financial sector in India, which is made up of commercial banks, financial institutions, and non-banking finance firms.

• Initiatives adopted by the RBI include restructuring bank inspections, introducing off-site surveillance of banks and financial institutions, and strengthening the role of auditors.

RBI Governors of India

RBI Governors of India a members of the Strategic Policy Group headed by National Security Advisor,  Ajit Doval.

• It is a crucial wing of the National Security Council.

• The term of office typically runs for three years and can, in some cases, be extended for another two years.

• The Governor of the RBI is appointed by the PMO (Prime Minister's Office) on the recommendation of the Union Finance Minister.

Prime Ministers in India List

RBI Governors of India - Eligibility

Initially, the RBI Governors of India were a part of the  Indian Civil Services, but any individual who holds a Graduate degree/ Post Graduate/ Chartered Accountant can become a Governor of the RBI, provided that he had worked in any of the following institutions:

• IMF/ World Bank.

• Chairman or General Manager of a Bank.

• Reputed Financial or Banking organization.

• Ministry of Finance (GOI)

Other than the above, any citizen who is 35 years or above is eligible. He must not be a member of the Parliament/State Legislature, also he must not hold any other office for profit.

New List of Cabinet Ministers of India

Static GK PDF

Role and Responsibilities of RBI Governors of India

Here are some duties that are generally performed by the RBI Governors.

• The powers of the governors include,

• • Banker’s banker

  • Heads all the commercial banks

  • Influencing micro and macro economies

  • Control over the stock market

  • Signatures on currency notes and

  • Control over the monetary, currency, and credit system.

• The RBI governors of India are responsible for maintaining the monetary stability of the economy. Thus, plays an important role in formulating the policies of the Reserve Bank of India.

• The responsibility for issuing licenses to open new foreign and private banks is also headed by the governor of the RBI.

• The power to control the interest rates on advances and deposits of the country is vested in the governors. However, the scope of this power is limited to prescribing minimum lending rates and interest rates on savings accounts.

• The financial system of the nation is regulated and administered by the Governor and only sets the parameters within which the whole financial system functions.

• The Governor of the RBI manages external trade and payment, and also promotes orderly development and maintenance of the foreign exchange market in India, which comes under the Foreign Exchange Management Act of 1999.

• Monitoring of adequate quantities of currency notes and coins supply in the country, and the issuance and destruction of currency that are not fit for circulation in public.The 

• RBI Governor also keeps a check on rules and regulations to make them more customer-friendly.

• Through the Urban Bank Departments RBI governor leads and supervises primary co-operative banks.

• Furthermore, the RBI Governor also has a part to play in facilitating and monitoring the flow of credit to small-scale industries, rural, and agricultural sectors. The responsibility for regulating state cooperative banks, regional rural banks, and various local area banks.

The RBI Governors of India perform many more functions than the Central Bank of India.

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RBI Governors Tenure

The tenure of an RBI governor as specified in the constitution is three years; however, it can be extended for two more years. The Governor can be terminated in two cases, and they are as follows:

• If dismissed by the President.

• Resignation is submitted by the Governor to the President.

List of RBI Governors of India From 1935 To 2025

Here is the list of 25 governors of the Reserve Bank of India, and explained with their tenure. Read further to know the list of governors of the RBI.

• The first governor of the Reserve Bank of India and the inaugural officeholder was the British banker Sir Osborne Smith (April 1, 1935 - June 30, 1937).

• Before he was the managing Governor of the Imperial Bank of India. The first governor of the RBI after Independence was Sir C.D. Deshmukh ( 11 August 1943 - 30 June 1949), and he was an IAS officer before joining the RBI. 

• Sir Benegal Rama Rau (July 1, 1949 -January 14, 1957) was the longest-serving governor, holding office for over seven years.

• Amitav Ghosh's ( January 15, 1985 – September 4, 1985) 20-day term is the shortest.

• Shaktikanta Das is the twenty-fifth governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 12 December 2018 to 9 December 2024.

• He is the current governor of the RBI.

• Shaktikanta Das is a retired 1980-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre.

• He was earlier a member of the Fifteenth Finance Commission.

President of India List

Deputy Governor of the RBI List

• The Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India is the second most senior executive officer of the RBI after its Governor.

• Since its establishment in 1934, the RBI has had 63 deputy governors.

• The term of office runs for three years, and in some cases, can be extended for another two years.

The list of deputy governors of the RBI is tabulated below in the List of RBI Governors of India 2025 post.

The first deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India and the inaugural officeholder, James Braid Taylor (1 April 1935 - 30 June 1937) and he was worked as a civil servant before joining the RBI.

K J Udeshi holds the unique distinction of becoming the first female deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India.

The current deputy governors of the Reserve Bank of India are Michael Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi Sankar, and Swaminathan Janakiraman join the club of Deputy Governors of RBI of India.

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FAQs

Q. Who is the current RBI Governor of India in 2025?

The current RBI Governor is Shaktikanta Das, who took office in December 2018. (Check the PDF for the most recent updates if any changes occur.)

Q. Why is it important to know the list of RBI Governors for exams?

RBI Governors are frequently asked about in Banking Awareness, General Knowledge, and Economy sections of exams like Banking, SSC, UPSC, Railway, and State PCS. Their tenure often aligns with key policy decisions.

Q. What is the role of the RBI Governor?

The RBI Governor heads India’s central bank and is responsible for:

• Setting monetary policy

• Overseeing banking regulations

• Managing inflation and interest rates

• Ensuring financial stability

Q. When was the Reserve Bank of India established?

The RBI was established on April 1, 1935, under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. It was initially privately owned and was nationalized in 1949.

Q. How many RBI Governors have there been so far?

Since 1935, there have been 25 Governors of the RBI (as of 2025). Each has contributed uniquely to India's financial and monetary systems. (Check the PDF for a full list with tenure.)

Q. Is the PDF available in both English and Hindi?

Yes! The RBI Governor List PDF is provided in both English and Hindi, making it easy for candidates to revise in their preferred language.

Q. Does the PDF include each Governor’s background and key contributions?

RBI Governors are frequently asked about in Banking Awareness, General Knowledge, and Economy sections of exams like Banking, SSC, UPSC, Railway, and State PCS. Their tenure often aligns with key policy decisions.

Q. How can I remember the names and tenures of RBI Governors for exams?

Use timelines, flashcards, or quick revision quizzes (included in the article or linked PDF) to make memorizing easier and more effective.

Q. Who was the first Governor of the Reserve Bank of India?

The first RBI Governor was Sir Osborne Smith, who served from April 1, 1935, to June 30, 1937. He played a key role in setting up the early framework of the institution.

Q. Can an RBI Governor be reappointed or have their term extended?

Yes! The RBI Governor’s term is typically three years, but it can be extended or they can be reappointed based on the decision of the Government of India.