Raja J Chelliah

Raja J Chelliah (1922–2009) was one of India’s most respected economists, referred to as the Father of Tax Reforms by his peers. Dr Chelliah is best known for his work as Chairman of the Tax Reforms Committee between 1991 and 1993, which se out a roadmap for reducing import duties. This paved the way for liberalisation in India. A specialist in public finance and an institutional builder, Dr Chelliah founded the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy in 1976 and built it up into a full-fledged research institution in fiscal matters. He also founded the Madras School of Economics and was Professor Emeritus there. Dr Chelliah served as a Planning Commission member (1987–89) and on the Ninth Finance Commission. He also held the post of Fiscal Advisor in the Union Ministry of Finance (1993–95). He was honoured with a Padma Vibhushan in 2007.

His publications include: Towards Sustainable Growth: Essays in Fiscal and Financial Sector Reforms in India (1996), Ecotaxes on Polluting Inputs and Outputs (2007), Income–Poverty and Beyond (2002), Reports on India’s Tax Reforms (with Vijay L. Kelkar, 2003).