Suresh Tendulkar

Suresh D. Tendulkar (15 February 1939 – 21 June 2011) was an Indian economist and former chief of National Statistical Commission. Tendulkar was a member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) from 2004 to 2008 and as its chairman from 2008 to 2009 when C. Rangarajan vacated the post to enter the Rajya Sabha. He died on 21 June 2011, as a result of cardiac arrest at Prayag Hospital, Pune (India).

Suresh Tendulkar did his B.Com. from Pune University and was the topper. He then did M.A. from Delhi School of Economics again coming first. He went on to do his Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University.

Suresh Tendulkar headed committee named as Suresh Tendulkar Committee to look into the people living under poverty line in India. He also served as member of the Reserve Bank of India’s central board of directors. Prof. Tendulkar was known for his extensive work on "Credit and Privatisation policies" and "Indian development issues and policies", including liberalisation and globalisation. He was also a part-time member of the National Statistical Commission (2000–01), the first "Disinvestment Commission" (1996–99), and the Fifth "Central Pay Commission" (1994–97).

Prof. Tendulkar's pioneering contribution was his extensive work on poverty and estimation of people below poverty line (BPL). A committee was formed by government of India in 2009, with Tendulkar as chairman to 'report on methodology of estimation of poverty'. In 2009, this committee came out with a new method to calculate poverty. According to this method, the number of the poor in India in 2004–05 rose from 27.5 per cent of the total population to 37.2 per cent. In past, poverty was estimated by looking at a limited view of money required for stipulated minimum calorie intakeby individuals. But the Tendulkar committee moved to a wider definition, including spending on food as well as education, health, light(electricity), clothing and footwear.

He was a, visiting fellow, was professor of economics at the Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, India. To his credit he authored several books like ‘Reintegrating India with the World Economy’ and ‘Understanding Reforms’.