Neelkanth Mishra, Chief Economist, Axis Bank and Head of Global Research, Axis Capital, has been appointed the part-time chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Nilesh Shah, Managing Director, Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company Limited, and Prof Mausam, Associate Professor, Computer Science Department, IIT Delhi, will become part-time members.
Who is Neelkanth Mishra?
Neelkanth Mishra, formerly associated with Zurich-based Credit Suisse, is now a significant presence at Axis Bank, bringing over two decades of financial expertise to the table.
His notable roles at Credit Suisse encompassed being Co-head of APAC Strategy, India Equity Strategy Head, and Head of Research for India. Within these roles, he displayed a specialised focus on diverse sectors including metals and mining, Indian pharmaceuticals, Taiwan IC design, semiconductor foundries and Asian tech strategy research.
Mishra is acclaimed for his distinctive insights into economic policies and market strategies, a reputation bolstered by his advisory roles in various government committees. He has also contributed significantly as a member of the economic advisory council to the 15th finance commission.
It was Mishra who identified the "K-shaped" recovery dynamics, emphasising that the consumption downturn predominantly impacted the upper echelon of individuals with substantial disposable income. Mishra's foresight extended to the aftermath of the pandemic, as he anticipated a considerable surge in consumption when economic activities resumed.
UIDAI Board
Based on information made available through its official website, the UIDAI board structure encompasses a chairperson, two part-time members and the CEO, who simultaneously holds the role of the Member-Secretary within the Authority.
Although senior IAS officer Amit Agrawal took over as the UIDAI CEO in June 2023, he was standing as the sole board member within the nodal organisation. The recent appointments are poised to occupy all the previously-vacant positions within the board of the Aadhaar administrator.
