Bagicha Singh Minhas
Encyclopedia
Padma Bhushan
Dr. Bagicha Singh Minhas (1929–2005) was an eminent Indian economist.
and obtained his first degree
of BSc (agriculture) from Khalsa College, Amritsar, and a Master’s degree in economics
from Punjab University
. He then obtained another degree from the University of Illinois, USA, and followed it up with a PhD in economics from Stanford University
, USA. He taught economics at Stanford as an Assistant Professor
, but later returned to India as a Research Professor and became Head of the Planning Division at the Indian Statistical Institute
from 1971 to 1986.
.
Dr. Minhas worked as a Consultant to the World Bank
at Washington D.C. and the Statistics and Survey Division of the Food and Agricultural Organization
(Rome). In 1976 – 78, he worked as a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies
(IDS) at the University of Sussex in the UK and, a little later, he held appointments as Visiting Professor at John Hopkins and as Rufus Putnam
Visiting Professor at Ohio. From 1981 to 1984, he served as Secretary General of the Afro-Asian Rural Reconstruction Organization and also Chairman of the National Sample Survey
(NSS) Organization (1980–90).
Dr. Minhas has been a Fellow of the Econometric Society
(1973), a National Fellow at the Indian Council of Social Science Research
(1990–92) and a life member of the American Economic Association
. From 1992 to 1993, he was the President of the Indian Economic Society and, from 1994 to 1998, the President of the Indian Association for Research in National Income & Wealth.
The Financial Express Award for Economics 1999 was presented to Dr. Bagicha Singh Minhas at the Annual Conference of the Indian Economic Association at Amritsar on December 27, 1999.
Dr. Minhas then received the Padma Bhushan Award in 2003 for science and engineering.
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
Dr. Bagicha Singh Minhas (1929–2005) was an eminent Indian economist.
Education
Dr. Minhas was born in PunjabPunjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
and obtained his first degree
Undergraduate degree
An undergraduate degree is a colloquial term for an academic degree taken by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. It is usually offered at an institution of higher education, such as a university...
of BSc (agriculture) from Khalsa College, Amritsar, and a Master’s degree in economics
Master of Economics
A Master's Degree in Economics is a postgraduate academic program, offering training in economic theory, econometrics and / or applied economics. The degree may be offered as a terminal degree or as additional preparation for doctoral study, and is sometimes offered as a professional degree...
from Punjab University
University of the Punjab
University of the Punjab , colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The University of the Punjab is the oldest and biggest University of Pakistan. The University of the Punjab was formally established with the convening of the first meeting of its...
. He then obtained another degree from the University of Illinois, USA, and followed it up with a PhD in economics from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, USA. He taught economics at Stanford as an Assistant Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
, but later returned to India as a Research Professor and became Head of the Planning Division at the Indian Statistical Institute
Indian Statistical Institute
Indian Statistical Institute is a public research institute and university in Kolkata's northern outskirt of Baranagar, India founded by Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in 1931...
from 1971 to 1986.
Career
Dr. Minhas was a member of the Indian Planning Commission from 1971 to 1973. Simultaneously, in 1972-73, Dr. Minhas was appointed a member of the Finance Commission. He made his mark on planning strategies as well as financial analysisFinancial analysis
Financial analysis refers to an assessment of the viability, stability and profitability of a business, sub-business or project....
.
Dr. Minhas worked as a Consultant to the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
at Washington D.C. and the Statistics and Survey Division of the Food and Agricultural Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
(Rome). In 1976 – 78, he worked as a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies
Institute of Development Studies
The Institute of Development Studies based at the University of Sussex is a global organisation for research, teaching and communications on international development....
(IDS) at the University of Sussex in the UK and, a little later, he held appointments as Visiting Professor at John Hopkins and as Rufus Putnam
Rufus Putnam
Rufus Putnam was a colonial military officer during the French and Indian War, and a general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
Visiting Professor at Ohio. From 1981 to 1984, he served as Secretary General of the Afro-Asian Rural Reconstruction Organization and also Chairman of the National Sample Survey
Sampling (statistics)
In statistics and survey methodology, sampling is concerned with the selection of a subset of individuals from within a population to estimate characteristics of the whole population....
(NSS) Organization (1980–90).
Dr. Minhas has been a Fellow of the Econometric Society
Econometric Society
The Econometric Society is an international society for the advancement of economic theory in its relation with statistics and mathematics. It was founded on December 29, 1930 at the Stalton Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio....
(1973), a National Fellow at the Indian Council of Social Science Research
Indian Council of Social Science Research
Indian Council of Social Science Research was established in the year of 1969 by the Government of India to promote research in social sciences in the country...
(1990–92) and a life member of the American Economic Association
American Economic Association
The American Economic Association, or AEA, is a learned society in the field of economics, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. It publishes one of the most prestigious academic journals in economics: the American Economic Review...
. From 1992 to 1993, he was the President of the Indian Economic Society and, from 1994 to 1998, the President of the Indian Association for Research in National Income & Wealth.
The Financial Express Award for Economics 1999 was presented to Dr. Bagicha Singh Minhas at the Annual Conference of the Indian Economic Association at Amritsar on December 27, 1999.
Dr. Minhas then received the Padma Bhushan Award in 2003 for science and engineering.