Krishnamurthy Subramanian, former chief economic adviser and now IMF executive director, hit back at X’s accusations of bias and incompetence with a scathing rebuttal. “I took a 90% pay cut to work for the government… I have no great need from anyone, let alone the poor taxpayer of the country. Serving the nation gives a satisfaction that cannot be measured.”
Subramanian’s response came after a social media post accused him of being a “chakra-picker”. He defended his record: “Never even tipped Rs 1 to an industrialist to maintain my freedom.”
Asked about his earlier comments about the “lower quality of life” in Washington, DC, compared to his previous position at ISB, Subramanian detailed the differences.
At ISB, she had access to a 4,500-square-foot residence, nearby recreational facilities, and domestic help for cooking, cleaning, and chores. In Washington, these amenities are absent, and daily tasks now take up valuable time.
However, the ‘real sacrifice’, he said, was being away from his parents during critical moments: “The value of being with parents when they need them most cannot be estimated.” Subramanian’s candor revealed the personal value of his global responsibilities.
Subramanian said in a recent interview to a news agency that he is upbeat about India’s economic future. He highlighted the country’s achievements, including its public digital infrastructure, balanced pandemic strategy, and rising global innovation ranking. “The world is excited about India,” he said, adding that productivity growth has doubled since 2014, and new firm creation has soared, making India the third-largest entrepreneurial ecosystem globally.
Subramanian envisioned India as a $55 trillion economy by 2047 but stressed the need for a change in mindset.
“India needs to understand that wealth creation is important for job creation,” he said, urging policies that reward entrepreneurs and investors.
