RAS question
Who is the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India as of February 2026?
Correct answer: (B) Sanjay Malhotra.
Sanjay Malhotra is the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India as of February 2026.
Explanation
The answer is Sanjay Malhotra because the Reserve Bank of India's own Governors page lists Shri Sanjay Malhotra as having taken over charge as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India for a three-year term effective December 11, 2024. That makes him the serving Governor in February 2026. The question's explanation also anchors the date through a February 2026 MPC decision, stating that Governor Sanjay Malhotra led that decision and raised the FY26 GDP growth projection from 7.3% to 7.4%. For an exam question framed "as of February 2026", the decisive point is the current office-holder, not a former RBI Governor's prominence.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Shaktikanta Das is listed by RBI as the 25th Governor who assumed charge effective December 12, 2018, while Sanjay Malhotra is listed after him as the 26th Governor.
- (C) Raghuram Rajan is listed by RBI as the 23rd Governor who assumed charge on September 4, 2013, so he was not the Governor in February 2026.
- (D) Urjit Patel is listed by RBI as the 24th Governor effective September 4, 2016, placing him before both Shaktikanta Das and Sanjay Malhotra in the succession.
Concept
This tests current institutional appointments in Indian Economy, especially the RBI's leadership and monetary policy framework. RAS repeats such facts because the Governor chairs closely watched policy decisions that affect growth, inflation and banking-sector governance.