Structure

Steering Committee

Dr. Govinda Rao

Dr. M. Govinda Rao is Director, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) since January 1, 2003. The NIPFP is a centre for advanced applied research, advocacy and training in public finance and public policy.

The main aim of NIPFP is to contribute to policy-making in spheres relating to public economics. Thrust areas of current research include: tax policy and administration, public expenditure, domestic and external debt, and fiscal federalism.

Dr. Rao holds a Ph.D. in Economics. Prior to joining the NIPFP as its Director, he served as the Director, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore (1998-2002). His past assignments include Fellow, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies The Australian National University; Professor, NIPFP; and Economic Adviser, Ninth Finance Commission, Government of India.

He has been an External Expert to Financial and Fiscal Commission, Republic of South Africa. He has been a Consultant to World Bank, IMF, UNDP, ADB and UNESCAP.

Dr. Rao has held several advisory positions such as Chairman, Expert Group on Taxation of Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India; Chairman, Committee for Introduction of Economic Instruments for Environmental Compliance by Industries in Karnataka, Government of Karnataka; and Member, Tax Reforms Commission, Government of Karnataka.

He has written and edited a number of books, including "Development, Poverty, and Fiscal Policy: Decentralization of Institutions", Oxford University Press (2002) and "Fiscal Federalism in India: Theory and Practice", Macmillan India (1996). He has also published articles on a variety of issues in public finance, development economics, and fiscal federalism.