NCAER Appoints Suresh Goyal as Director General from January 2026

India’s leading economic policy think tank, National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), has announced the appointment of Suresh Goyal as its next Director General, with effect from 5 January 2026.
The appointment comes at a critical time as India places increasing emphasis on evidence-based policymaking to support long-term growth and development goals.

Suresh Goyal will succeed Poonam Gupta, who served as Director General until April 2025.

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NCAER Appoints Suresh Goyal as Director General from January 2026

Who Is Suresh Goyal?

Suresh Goyal brings over three decades of experience across infrastructure finance, investment management, and public–private sector leadership.

Career Highlights:

• Former Managing Director & CEO, National Highway Infra Trust (NHIT)
• NHIT plays a key role in implementing the National Monetisation Pipeline under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and NHAI
• Former Senior Managing Director & Head of India and Southeast Asia, Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (Singapore)

His background uniquely combines policy understanding with large-scale infrastructure execution.

Key Responsibilities as Director General

As Director General, Suresh Goyal has been mandated to expand and deepen NCAER’s research footprint.

Priority Areas:

• States’ economic growth
• Health economics
• Macroeconomics and finance
• Data-driven policy analysis and modelling

He will also focus on:

• Creating new policy research centres
• Expanding NCAER’s endowment and institutional capacity
• Strengthening engagement with central and state governments
• Enhancing NCAER’s role in shaping India’s economic policy agenda

What Is NCAER?

The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) is one of India’s oldest and most respected independent economic research institutions.

Key Features:

• Provides policy-oriented research for evidence-based governance
• Advises central and state governments
• Works across areas such as:
  • Macroeconomics
  • Agriculture and rural development
  • Human development
  • Trade and technology
  • Gender studies
  • Economic modelling and data systems
• Collaborates with international organisations and academic institutions

NCAER plays a vital role in linking research insights with policy action.

Significance of the Appointment

The appointment of Suresh Goyal is seen as strategically important for several reasons:

• Evidence-Based Policymaking: Reinforces the role of rigorous research in economic governance
• Infrastructure–Policy Synergy: Goyal’s experience bridges policy research with on-ground implementation
• Institutional Strengthening: Supports India’s long-term vision of Viksit Bharat through stronger policy institutions

This leadership change is expected to enhance NCAER’s influence, capacity, and relevance in India’s evolving policy ecosystem.

Exam-Oriented Key Facts

• Organisation: National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)
• New Director General: Suresh Goyal
• Effective From: 5 January 2026
• Predecessor: Poonam Gupta
• Former Role of Goyal: MD & CEO, National Highway Infra Trust (NHIT)
• Experience: 30+ years across public and private sectors
• Focus Areas: Macroeconomics, health economics, states’ growth, finance, data-driven policy
• Significance: Strengthening evidence-based economic policymaking in India

Question & Answer

Q1. Who has been appointed as the new Director General of NCAER from January 2026?
(a) Poonam Gupta
(b) Suresh Goyal
(c) Raghuram Rajan
(d) Arvind Subramanian
Answer: Suresh Goyal

Q2. NCAER stands for which of the following?
(a) National Council for Applied Economic Research
(b) National Committee on Applied Economic Reform
(c) National Council of Applied Economic Research
(d) National Commission for Economic Analysis and Research
Answer: National Council of Applied Economic Research

Q3. Suresh Goyal was previously the MD & CEO of which organisation?
(a) NHAI
(b) NIIF
(c) National Highway Infra Trust (NHIT)
(d) IRFC
Answer: National Highway Infra Trust (NHIT)

Q4. From which date will Suresh Goyal assume charge as Director General of NCAER?
(a) 1 January 2026
(b) 5 January 2026
(c) 15 January 2026
(d) 1 February 2026
Answer: 5 January 2026

Q5. Which of the following is a key focus area for NCAER?
(a) Defence manufacturing
(b) Sports policy
(c) Macroeconomics and policy modelling
(d) Space technology
Answer: Macroeconomics and policy modelling

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