Dr. Shankar Acharya (born October 1945) is an Indian economist, who was the longest serving Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India.
[citation needed] Acharya was educated at Highgate School, London from 1959 to 1963 and in 1967 he graduated from Oxford University where he was a member of Keble College.
His 1972 PhD dissertation is available under: "Acharya, Shankar Nath, Some aspects of imperfections in primary factor markets of less developed countries".
His most significant assignment was as the Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India (in the rank of Secretary) between 1993 and 2001.
He also served as a Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (2001–2003) and the Twelfth Finance Commission (2004).