Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Gita Gopinath
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question deals with high profile appointments in major international financial institutions. The International Monetary Fund, often called IMF, plays a crucial role in global economic stability and financial cooperation. The post of Chief Economist is one of its most important positions. When a person of Indian origin was appointed to this role, it became important news for competitive examinations in India, particularly for banking, economics, and civil services aspirants.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The position mentioned is Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund.
- The question highlights that the person is a woman of Indian origin and that her appointment attracted attention.
- Among the options, only one name corresponds to a globally recognised economist from India.
Concept / Approach:
The relevant concept is general awareness of international organisations and key personalities. Gita Gopinath, an eminent economist with academic credentials from leading universities, was appointed as the Chief Economist of the IMF. The approach is to recall this well publicised appointment and then select her name from the options. This kind of question rewards those who regularly follow international economic news and official announcements from institutions such as the IMF and World Bank.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the international body mentioned in the question, which is the International Monetary Fund.
Step 2: Recall that in recent years, Gita Gopinath, an economist of Indian origin, was appointed as the Chief Economist of the IMF.
Step 3: Scan the options and locate her name, which appears as Gita Gopinath in option C.
Step 4: Confirm that the other listed names do not match this role and are likely distractors or unrelated personalities.
Step 5: Choose Gita Gopinath as the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
News articles, IMF press releases, and standard current affairs compendiums clearly state that Gita Gopinath was appointed Chief Economist of the IMF, succeeding her predecessor in that role. She is also often described as the first woman of Indian origin to hold this position. No similar claim is made about the other names in the options, which further verifies the answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Harinath: This name is not associated with any known senior IMF appointment and appears only as a distractor.
Sabarval: This is not the name of the IMF Chief Economist and does not match major international economic news, so it is incorrect.
Fadnavis: This name is associated with Indian politics, not with a senior IMF post, and therefore does not answer the question correctly.
Common Pitfalls:
A possible pitfall is to confuse the roles of chief economist, managing director, and other positions in global financial institutions, or to mix up names across the World Bank and IMF. Another issue is paying attention to nationality but forgetting the exact name. To avoid this, it helps to keep a short list of important Indian origin figures in international institutions and revise it periodically.
Final Answer:
The Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund referred to in the question is Gita Gopinath.
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