The Indian government has appointed Manoj Panda, former director at the Institute of Economic Growth, as a full-time member of the 16th Finance Commission. Panda’s expertise in macro-economic trends, fiscal policy evaluation, and growth and distribution analysis make him a valuable addition to the commission. He replaces Niranjan Rajadhyaksha and will serve until the submission of the commission’s report or October 31, 2025, whichever is earlier.