Surjit Bhalla resigns from Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council

Eminent economist and columnist Surjit Bhalla has resigned as part-time member of Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister(EAC-PM).

• His resignation comes a day after Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Urjit Patel, quit abruptly after months-long tussle over policy with the government.

About Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC):

• PMEAC is a non-constitutional and non-statutory, non-permanent and independent body, constituted with the prime and sole aim to analyse all critical issues, economic or otherwise, referred to it by the Prime Minister and advising him thereon.
• It is mandated to give advice to the Prime Minister on economic matters such as inflation, GDP changes, export-import changes, creating supporting environment for increased trade and commerce.

Functions:

• Submit periodic reports to the PM related to macroeconomic developments and issues which will have implications on the economic policy.
• Analyse any topics, issues assigned by the PM and provide advice on them.
• Analyse macroeconomic issues having high importance and present the views to PM and any other task which is assigned by the Prime Minister.

Current Composition of PMEAC:

• It is headed by Niti Aayog member Bibek Debroy.
• Economists Rathin Roy, Ashima Goyal and Shamika Ravi are other part-time members.

Question:

Q. Which eminent economist and columnist has resigned as part-time member of Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister(EAC-PM)?
a. Shashi Bhalla
b. Surjit Bhalla
c. Sanjeev Bhalla
d. None of the above