Dr. R. B. Barman, former Executive Director of the Reserve Bank of India, is a highly esteemed expert in statistics, applied economics and payment systems. With a career spanning over decades, he has been instrumental in shaping India’s financial and payments infrastructure, playing a pivotal role in the development of Reserve Bank’s Data Warehouse for Business Intelligence, digital payments including RTGS, NEFT, NECS and the setting up of the National Payments Corporation of India as a not for profit company.
As adviser to the NPCI since 2009, Dr Barman continues to guide the organization on technology matters helping it in its journey as a leader in retail payments globally, including Unified Payment Interface (UPI).

As Chairman of the National Statistical Commission (Ex-officio Minister of State, Government of India) during 2016-18, Dr. Barman has set the path for modernization of the country’s statistical system through digital transformation.
Dr. Barman has served in the key roles including President of The Indian Econometric Society and Vice-Chairman of the Irving Fisher Committee on Central Bank Statistics, BIS.

Dr. Barman is recipient of highly coveted National Award in Official Statistics – 2021 instituted by the Government of India in memory of Prof. P C Mahalanobis.