Why in News
Bibek Debroy, economist, author, translator and Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, died in New Delhi on 1 November 2024 at the age of 69. He was born in Shillong on 25 January 1955.
What Happened
Bibek Debroy, economist, author, translator and Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, died in New Delhi on 1 November 2024 at the age of 69. He was born in Shillong on 25 January 1955. On 1st November 2024, Bibek Debroy, the Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), passed away at the age of 69 in New Delhi due to prolonged illness. He was born on 25th January 1955 in Shillong, Meghalaya. Bibek Debroy was a renowned economist who began his career at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) in Pune (1983-87) and later at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Delhi (1987-1993).
He worked as Director of a Ministry of Finance (MoF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project on legal reforms from 1993 to 1998. He also worked with the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), MoF, in 1994-95. Debroy served as a member of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) from its inception in 2015 until 5th June 2019. He was honored with the Padma Shri, India's 4th highest civilian award, in 2015 for his exceptional contributions to literature and education. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the US-India Business Summit in 2016. In 2022, he was bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Australia-India Chamber of Commerce (AICC).
Background
Appointments and obituaries become exam-relevant when they illuminate constitutional offices, institutional history or a person's contribution to public life. The focus should remain on verified dates, positions and achievements rather than exaggerated counts or unsupported biographical claims. High Court leadership has both judicial and administrative dimensions, while major public figures may have worked across government, academia, law, economics or politics. Accurate chronology is essential because similar offices may have been held in several non-consecutive terms.
Key Features and Important Details
- Date / period – 1 November 2024
- Theme – Judiciary & Personalities
- Core Meghalaya link – Economist and EAC-PM Chairman Bibek Debroy Passes Away
- Verification result – Verified
Significance for Meghalaya
The event is relevant to Meghalaya's institutional history. Candidates should focus on the verified office, dates and contribution rather than memorising inflated biographical claims. The wider significance lies in constitutional leadership, public service and representation.
National and Constitutional Context
Remember verified dates, constitutional provisions, office, appointing authority and the person's major public contribution. For examinations, candidates should connect the person or appointment with the relevant constitutional provisions, institution, public contribution, awards and the broader significance for Meghalaya or India. For preliminary examinations, revise the exact names, date, place, responsible institution and one distinctive feature. For descriptive answers, use the event as an example under the relevant syllabus theme rather than reproducing it as a newspaper summary. Verification is part of preparation. Official notifications and institutional releases establish the event; reputable reporting adds context; and peer-reviewed papers establish scientific discoveries. Where these sources differ, the primary record should be preferred.
Challenges and Way Forward
For exam preparation, the event should be connected with the office, institution and constitutional process rather than treated only as a personality-based fact.
Important Facts for Prelims
- Date / period – 1 November 2024
- Theme – Judiciary & Personalities
- Core Meghalaya link – Economist and EAC-PM Chairman Bibek Debroy Passes Away
- Verification result – Verified
Mains Relevance
Remember verified dates, constitutional provisions, office, appointing authority and the person's major public contribution. For examinations, candidates should connect the person or appointment with the relevant constitutional provisions, institution, public contribution, awards and the broader significance for Meghalaya or India. For preliminary examinations, revise the exact names, date, place, responsible institution and one distinctive feature. For descriptive answers, use the event as an example under the relevant syllabus theme rather than reproducing it as a newspaper summary. Verification is part of preparation. Official notifications and institutional releases establish the event; reputable reporting adds context; and peer-reviewed papers establish scientific discoveries. Where these sources differ, the primary record should be preferred.
A balanced note should also identify implementation questions. These may include finance, local capacity, community participation, environmental effects, affordability, regulatory approval or continuity after the initial announcement. For preliminary examinations, revise the exact names, date, place, responsible institution and one distinctive feature. For descriptive answers, use the event as an example under the relevant syllabus theme rather than reproducing it as a newspaper summary.
Practice Questions
Practice MCQ
Question: With reference to Economist and EAC-PM Chairman Bibek Debroy Passes Away, consider the following statements:
- It is directly connected with Meghalaya.
- Its wider relevance can be linked with the category mentioned in this article.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2.
Mains Question
Explain the importance of Economist and EAC-PM Chairman Bibek Debroy Passes Away for Meghalaya. Discuss the main implementation challenges and suggest a practical way forward.