The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the appointment of Smt. Usha Janakiraman as Executive Director (ED) with effect from today, a move that underscores the central bank’s commitment to strengthening regulatory oversight and risk management across the banking sector.
Janakiraman, a Chartered Accountant by qualification, brings over three decades of rich experience within the RBI, having served in multiple critical areas including banking supervision, external investment operations, public debt management, currency management, and regulatory frameworks. Prior to her promotion, she was Chief General Manager-in-Charge of the Department of Regulation, where she played a pivotal role in streamlining the RBI’s regulatory communications. She was a key member of the core team that consolidated over 9,000 circulars issued by the central bank into a more manageable set of 244 circulars, significantly enhancing clarity and accessibility for regulated entities.
In her new role as ED, Janakiraman will oversee the Department of Supervision, focusing on risk assessment, analytics, and vulnerability management. Her appointment comes at a critical juncture as the RBI intensifies efforts to bolster supervisory mechanisms, enhance data-driven risk evaluation, and ensure the stability and resilience of India’s banking sector.
With this appointment, the RBI reinforces its focus on experienced leadership in supervisory functions, ensuring that regulatory policies are effectively implemented and aligned with the broader objective of financial stability in India.
Her elevation also signals the RBI’s sharper push toward anticipatory risk management, strengthening systemic surveillance, embedding data-led early-warning frameworks and ensuring banks are equipped to detect vulnerabilities long before they escalate into balance-sheet stress.
