According to the then contemporary appointments in the Government of India, who was serving as the Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) to the Government of India?

Introduction / Context:
The post of Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India is an important advisory position within the Ministry of Finance. The Chief Economic Adviser plays a key role in formulating economic policy and is often associated with the preparation of the Economic Survey. General knowledge questions frequently ask candidates to match prominent economists with this position during particular periods. This question refers to the period when Arvind Subramanian was the widely known occupant of the office.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are dealing with the official position of Chief Economic Adviser in the Ministry of Finance.
• The options list four well known figures associated with Indian economic policy and public life.
• The question reflects the time when Arvind Subramanian held the post, as recorded in common exam material of that period.
• We assume that the question is to be answered in that original context rather than with later changes in office holders.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this question, you need factual recall of who served as Chief Economic Adviser during the relevant exam period. Arvind Subramanian was appointed as Chief Economic Adviser in the middle of the last decade and became closely associated with several Economic Surveys of India. The other names in the options held different roles. Raghuram Rajan served as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and earlier as Chief Economic Adviser in a different period but is not the person indicated by this particular question set. Rajiv Mahirishi held positions such as Home Secretary and Comptroller and Auditor General. Arvind Panagariya served as Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog. Therefore, for the time frame typically implied by this question, Arvind Subramanian is the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the question is about the Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India, not the central bank governor or other posts. Step 2: Recall that Arvind Subramanian was appointed as Chief Economic Adviser and became widely known through the Economic Survey presentations. Step 3: Recognize that Raghuram Rajan is more directly associated with the role of Governor of the Reserve Bank of India in popular memory for this period. Step 4: Note that Rajiv Mahirishi and Arvind Pangariya held other senior positions but not the post referred to in this question set. Step 5: Conclude that Arvind Subramanian is the correct choice for the Chief Economic Adviser in the context of this question.

Verification / Alternative check:
One way to verify is to mentally associate each name with the office most widely connected to that person in exam oriented general knowledge. Raghuram Rajan is associated with the RBI, Arvind Panagariya with NITI Aayog, and Rajiv Mahirishi with roles in the civil service and audit institutions. Arvind Subramanian is consistently linked with the Chief Economic Adviser office and the Economic Survey during the period when these questions were framed. This cross check confirms that option B is the most accurate answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Raghu Ram Rajan: Better known as Raghuram Rajan, he served as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and also earlier as Chief Economic Adviser, but in a different period than the context implied by this question. The options here point to the later well known occupant, Arvind Subramanian.
Rajiv Mahirishi: He is known for holding senior administrative posts such as Home Secretary and later Comptroller and Auditor General, not for serving as Chief Economic Adviser during the period in question.
Arvind Pangariya: He is mainly associated with serving as Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog rather than as the Chief Economic Adviser in the Ministry of Finance.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent source of confusion is that more than one of the listed economists has held influential policy roles, and some have even served as Chief Economic Adviser at different times. Another pitfall is to answer based on the most recent office holder rather than the time frame in which the exam question was originally written. When tackling such questions, it is useful to link each name with the specific role most emphasised in exam material for that period, which in this case clearly points to Arvind Subramanian as Chief Economic Adviser.

Final Answer:
In the context of this question, the Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India was Arvind Subramanian.