| RBI Governor salary per month is Rs. 2.5 Lakh as a basic salary. In addition to it, enjoys various allowances and benefits. Know in-hand salary in 2025 in this comprehensive guide. |
Who would not dream of becoming a governor of the Reserve Bank of India? It's not only a post, but an institution itself. Only few officials get a chance to grace this prestigious post. It's not only about salary, benefits, perks, allowances associated with the post, but prestige, power and authority it commands.
As we have have already covered the Chief Minister Salary, Prime Minister of India Salary, President of India Salary, Member of Parliament Salary 2025, Vice President of India Salary in 2025 amongst the salaries of government officials in India, we will also understand the Salary of a Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Though RBI governor is not a political official, he is an important contributor to national monetary management.
The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) serves as the chief executive officer of India's central bank and chairs its Central Board of Directors. Traditionally, the RBI Governor holds a rank equivalent to a Minister of State. The Governor's signature is present on Indian Rupee notes issued by the Reserve Bank of India. Since the RBI was established in 1935, it has had twenty-six governors. The RBI governor also sits on the Strategic Policy Group, which is an important division of the National Security Council and is led by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
The salary of Governor of RBI is not limited to its basic salary of 2.5 Lakhs per month but a great pool of allowances, perks and benefits.
Check: Ajit Doval Salary
RBI Governor Salary Per Month in India in 2025
- Basic Pay- Rs. 2,50,000 per month. This is a fixed basic salary of RBI Governor.
- Dearness Allowance (DA)- As per provisions of the government of India.
- House Rent Allowance (HRA)-Furnished Residence. Official residence is provided to RBI governor in Mumbai. HRA is not paid if accommodation is availed.
- Special Allowances-For protocol, representation, and other duties.
- Travel/Vehicle Allowance-Full-time vehicle + driver is given. It is provided by RBI for official duties.
- Medical Benefits-Full reimbursement for Governor and eligible dependents.
- Telephone & Internet-Fully paid for both residence and office.
- Security Allowance-Covered by RBI & Govt. Z+ category security with armed personnel is a big advantage.
Total Monthly Gross Salary- Around 3 Lakhs
| Note: Total Monthly Gross Salary is an approximation and estimated figure. Actual in-hand salary may vary depending upon multiple factors. For accurate details, please refer to official notifications. RBI Governor's salary is set by the Government of India, and is aligned with top civil services like Cabinet Secretary. |
The pay for this position hasn't been updated since Urjit Patel's time in 2016. For comparison, Deputy Governors get a base pay of Rs 2.25 lakh each month, and the Governor makes Rs 31,500 on top of that. Even though the salary isn't huge, the job does come with meaning, like signing money and living in a classic home in Mumbai. We will cover deputy governor of RBI salary in detail later in the article.
But before that read about Cabinet Secretary Salary 2025- Highest IAS Post Salary Details
Benefits of RBI Governor Besides Salary and Allowances (2025)
RBI Governor does not only enjoy salary and allowances but also attractive perks and facilities.
- Official Residence: A fully furnished, large bungalow in Mumbai (usually in Malabar Hill or a similar high-security area) is provided without rent.
- Security: Z+ security protection, including NSG or CISF commandos, is provided because of the person's monetary stability and national security role.
- Dedicated Staff: A personal secretary, assistants, domestic help, a driver, and other staff are supplied by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- Official Car: A nice car with the national or state flag and a personal driver are available 24/7 for work use.
- Medical Coverage: The Governor and their family get complete medical reimbursement and access to top hospitals.
- International Travel: First-class flights, VIP airport lounges, special services, and stays at Indian embassies or top hotels are provided for official trips abroad.
- Post-Retirement: There are chances to work with global financial groups like the IMF, World Bank, or the Bank for International Settlements(BIS), or to advise the Indian government on money matters.
- Guest Access: Priority access to state and national events, policy meetings, world meetings, and meetings with national leaders.
- Communication: RBI provides and pays for free mobile, internet, phone lines, and devices.
- Discretion: A lot of say in money policy, currency rules, and keeping the financial system stable makes this one of India's most powerful policy jobs.
Interesting Read: Governor Salary in India 2025, Per Month State Governor Pay Structure
Do RBI Governors Receive Pension?
If the Governor is appointed from within the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), he may get pension. Governors who are promoted from within the RBI, such as Deputy Governors or senior officers, are eligible for the RBI Employees' Pension Scheme. They will get a monthly pension that is based on their final salary and time in service.
If a governor is appointed from outside the Reserve Bank of India, as was the case with Raghuram Rajan and Urjit Patel, their appointment is often contract-based.
Governors appointed in this way do not receive a pension from the RBI.
They might, though, be getting pension benefits from their previous employer, such as the IAS or a university.
Retirement Benefits depends on the specific cases.
Depending on the appointment terms, gratuity, leave encashment, and post-retirement healthcare might be available.
Some individuals might get honorary or advisory positions after retirement, which usually come with other benefits.
In short, not every Reserve Bank of India Governor gets an RBI pension. This depends on if they were existing RBI staff or those appointed from the outside.
Note: The details on pension is created as per available data. It is important to refer to official notifications for accurate details for RBI Pension Scheme.
Governor of Reserve Bank of India Job Profile
The Reserve Bank of India's Governor is the top executive at the central bank. They are key to guiding India’s monetary policy, financial stability, and economic growth. The Indian government appoints the Governor, usually for a three-year term that can be extended. As head of the central board of directors, the Governor is in charge of India's monetary system.
Main Duties of RBO governor is as follows:
- Making and Doing Monetary Policy: The Governor, along with the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), decides on key interest rates like the repo rate, reverse repo rate, CRR, and SLR. This helps to keep inflation under control, manage the money supply, and promote economic growth.
- Overseeing Banks and NBFCs: The RBI Governor is in charge of licensing, how they are run, and how commercial banks, cooperative banks, and NBFCs work. This makes sure that these financial groups are stable, ethical, and have enough capital.
- Printing and Handling Money: According to the RBI Act, the Governor is responsible for the design, creation, and circulation of Indian money. The RBI is the only group that can issue currency in India (except for the Re.1 note, which is issued by the Government).
- Keeping Finances Stable: The Governor acts to stop banking or financial crises. They do this by managing credit, spotting risks early, and making sure the financial system is strong.
- Handling Foreign Money and Reserves: The Governor manages foreign exchange reserves, controls the flow of foreign money in and out of the country, and works to keep the rupee stable against major world currencies, as directed by the FEMA Act.
- Growth Role: The Governor pushes for financial inclusion, digital banking, and better payment systems (like UPI, RTGS, NEFT). They also back new ideas in the financial world.
- Managing Government Debt: The RBI Governor helps the Central and State Governments with their borrowing plans, which encourages financial responsibility and a healthy bond market.
- Working with Global Groups: The Governor represents India in financial groups like the IMF, World Bank, BIS, and G20. They also work with central banks around the globe on policy issues.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor functions with independence from political sway but is broadly watched by the Ministry of Finance. Despite this freedom, the Governor is expected to align policy with the government, especially when there are money problems or international crises.
The RBI Governor is essentially India’s top monetary official. He or she is a financial protector and macroeconomic planner, deeply affecting all parts of the economy, including price increases, interest rates, bank rules and online money matters.
Present Governor of Reserve Bank of India
Present governor name of Reserve Bank of India is Sanjay Malhotra. He was born on February 14, 1968, is an Indian bureaucrat and IAS officer. He currently serves as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, a role he assumed on December 11, 2024. A 1990 Batch Rajasthan Cadre IAS officer, Malhotra has held several posts during his career.
RBI Deputy Governor Salary in India 2025
In 2025, the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India makes a flat monthly salary of ₹2,25,000 (based on current guidelines and RBI info).
This is a set amount, not part of a pay scale. It doesn't include things like housing allowance (HRA). Often, Deputy Governors get government housing, so they don't get HRA. They might get HRA if they don't use the housing. Unlike many officials, this job isn't part of the standard 7th Pay Commission system. It uses the RBI's own pay system, which is based on contracts and is independent.
Besides the salary, Deputy Governors get perks such as:
- official house
- a car with a driver
- health care for them and their families
- phone and internet money, security, and
- travel money
These extra benefits make the total package much better than just the base salary.
The job lasts around 3 years, and it can be extended. People are appointed from within the RBI or from outside sources like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), universities, or government-owned banks.
Get Insights on IAS Starting Salary, Salary After 5 Years, 10 Years, 20 Years, 30 Years
Current Deputy Governors of RBI
The table below mentions the present Deputy Governors of RBI:
Name of the Deputy Governor | Appointment Date | Status | Tenure | Background |
T. Rabi Sankar | 3 May 2021 | In Office | 4 years, 75 days | He has been banker. |
Swaminathan Janakiraman | 26 June 2023 | In Office | 2 years, 21 days | He has been banker. |
Poonam Gupta (Economist) | 2 April 2025 | In Office | 106 days | He has been an economist. |
M. Rajeshwar Rao | 9 October 2020 | In Office | 4 years, 281 days | He has been banker. |
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