Dr Harsh Kumar Bhanwala took charge as Chairman of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).He succeeded Dr Prakash Bakshi, who retired in September 2013, after which Smt. Snehlata Shrivastava, Additional Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, was given the additional charge of the said post.

Prior to this appointment, Dr Bhanwala was the Executive Director(ED) at India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL), a state-owned infrastructure lender.

He was also holding the charge of CMD, IIFCL for about six months. He was earlier looking after the Corporate Planning, Human Resource Development and Credit Enhancement initiatives as Chief General Manager at IIFCL. During his tenure at IIFCL, he also held the Chairmanship of the two subsidiaries of the company — IIFC (UK) Ltd., London, and IIFCL Projects Ltd., New Delhi.

Appointment as Chairman: new NABARD head assumes leadership, bringing extensive infrastructure finance and executive experience. Dr Harsh Kumar Bhanwala assumed charge as Chairman of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, succeeding the retired incumbent and following an interim additional-charge arrangement; the announcement confirms leadership continuity. The release notes his prior role as Executive Director and temporary Chairman and Managing Director at India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd, his responsibilities in corporate planning, human resource development and credit enhancement, and his chairmanship of two IIFCL subsidiaries, evidencing relevant executive and subsidiary oversight experience.