Kaushik Basu is an Indian economist who has held prominent positions in both academia and public service. He was born on January 9, 1952, in Kolkata, India. Basu is known for his extensive work in the field of economics and has made significant contributions to various areas of economic research and policy. Basu served as the Chief Economist of the World Bank from 2012 to 2016. In this role, he provided economic advice and insights to the institution, working on global economic issues and development policies. Before joining the World Bank, he was the Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India, where he played a key role in shaping India's economic policies.