Former Directors
Prof. Kirit S. Parikh
Prof. Kirit S. Parikh served as the Founder Director and later Vice-Chancellor from January 1, 1987 to July 31, 2000 and played a pivotal role in building the institute into one of India’s leading centres for development research and policy studies. Under his leadership, IGIDR evolved from a newly established institution into a ‘Deemed University’ known for excellence in development economics, energy studies, environmental policy, econometrics, and public policy research. He introduced a strong interdisciplinary and quantitative research culture and helped launch advanced academic programmes including the Ph.D. and M.Phil. in Development Studies.
During his tenure, Dr. Parikh strengthened IGIDR’s national and international reputation through policy-oriented research on energy planning, poverty, agriculture, trade reforms, and sustainable development. His close association with government policy bodies and international organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), brought significant visibility and academic collaborations to the institute. His visionary leadership laid the intellectual and institutional foundation that continues to define IGIDR as a premier research institution in India.
Prof. Jyoti K. Parikh
Prof. Jyoti K. Parikh, Senior Professor, IGIDR served as Director-in-Charge from August 1, 2000 to March 5, 2001. An internationally respected scholar in energy, environment, and sustainable development, she contributed significantly to maintaining and strengthening IGIDR’s academic and research excellence during this transitional phase. Her leadership emphasized interdisciplinary research in environmental economics, climate change, energy policy, and sustainable development, further enhancing the institute’s reputation as a premier centre for policy-oriented research.
Prof. R. Radhakrishna
Late Prof. R. Radhakrishna served as Director and Vice-Chancellor from March 5, 2001 to October 31, 2007 and played a significant role in expanding the institute’s academic and research profile. A distinguished development economist known for his work on poverty, food security, agriculture, employment, and rural development, he strengthened IGIDR’s position as a premier centre for policy-oriented research and higher education in development studies. During his tenure, the institute introduced innovative academic programmes, including the M.Sc. in Economics and international collaborative initiatives in areas such as Law and Economics.
Under Prof. Radhakrishna’s leadership, IGIDR further enhanced its contributions to public policy research in areas such as inclusive growth, social policy, poverty estimation, and sustainable development. He encouraged interdisciplinary research and strengthened collaborations with national and international academic and policy institutions. His tenure is widely recognized for consolidating IGIDR’s reputation as a leading research university dedicated to development economics and public policy in India.
Prof. Dilip M. Nachane
Prof. Dilip M. Nachane served as Director and Vice-Chancellor from November 1, 2007 to April 30, 2010 and contributed significantly to strengthening the institute’s academic and research environment in economics, finance, and public policy. A distinguished economist known for his work in monetary economics, econometrics, financial economics, and banking, Prof. Nachane brought strong quantitative and analytical perspectives to IGIDR’s teaching and research programmes. During his tenure, the institute continued to expand its reputation as a leading centre for advanced research in development studies and applied economics.
Under his leadership, IGIDR further promoted interdisciplinary and policy-oriented research in areas such as macroeconomics, financial markets, monetary policy, and economic reforms. He encouraged high-quality research publications, academic collaborations, and greater engagement with national policy institutions and the Reserve Bank of India. Prof. Nachane’s tenure is remembered for reinforcing IGIDR’s emphasis on rigorous economic analysis and strengthening its standing within India’s higher education and research landscape.
During the period May 01, 2010, to August 16, 2010, Ad-hoc Management Committee appointed to take care of the affairs of the institute, supervised and guided the activities of the institute.
Prof. S. Mahendra Dev
Prof. S. Mahendra Dev served as Director and Vice-Chancellor from August 16, 2010 to September 30, 2022 and played a major role in strengthening the institute’s academic excellence, policy engagement, and interdisciplinary research. A distinguished development economist known for his contributions to agricultural economics, rural development, poverty, food security, and inclusive growth, he guided IGIDR through a period of significant academic expansion and increased national and international visibility. Under his leadership, the institute enhanced its research output, strengthened collaborations with global institutions, and promoted evidence-based policy research in areas such as inequality, employment, sustainable development, public health, and social sector reforms.
During his tenure, Prof. Mahendra Dev emphasized rigorous research combined with public policy relevance, reinforcing IGIDR’s reputation as one of India’s leading institutions for development studies and applied economics. He actively contributed to national policy discussions through various government committees, advisory bodies, and academic forums, while also encouraging young researchers and expanding the institute’s outreach and academic programmes. His leadership is widely recognized for consolidating IGIDR’s standing as a premier research university dedicated to development economics and public policy.
Shri Jose J. Kattoor
Shri Jose J. Kattoor, Executive Director, RBI, served as Interim-Director from October 1, 2022 to February 8, 2023, providing administrative and institutional leadership during a transitional phase for the institute. A senior banking and financial sector professional with more than three decades of experience at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), he brought extensive expertise in governance, human resource management, financial supervision, corporate strategy, and institutional administration. During his tenure at IGIDR, he contributed to maintaining the institute’s academic and research continuity while supporting its ongoing activities in development economics, public policy, and higher education.