The son of Suradi Prawiro, a teacher, Radius attended school in Yogyakarta.

After finishing school, he continued his education in the Nederlands Economische Hogeschool in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

His economic and political career began as the Secretary of the People's Security Committee (Badan Keamanan Rakyat) in Yogyakarta in 1945 and continued as TRI [id] Liaison Officer (Perwira Markas Tertinggi Perhubungan TRI) in Yogyakarta from 1947 to 1948, was on the Staff of the Military Governor of the Yogyakarta from 1945 to 1951 and worked as a Technical Officer in the National Accounting Office (Pegawai Teknis Direktorat Akuntan Negara) from 1960 to 1965.

He then held the position of Deputy Minister for the National Audit Office of Indonesia (Deputi Menteri Pemeriksa Keuangan Negara) (1965), Deputy Minister for the central bank (1965), Governor of the National Bank of Indonesia (1966), Governor of Bank Indonesia (1966–1973), and served concurrently as Governor of the International Monetary Fund and the Vice-Governor of the Asian Development Bank for Indonesia from 1967 to 1971.

Radius became a member of the President's Economic Experts Team, and served as Head of the Governing Committee of the World Bank (1971–1973).