Ashok Lahiri, an accomplished economist, has been appointed as the next vice chairman of NITI Aayog, taking over from Suman Bery, who will retire this month. Lahiri's career spans various sectors, including government, finance, and politics. He is currently a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in West Bengal and has previously served as the Chief Economic Adviser under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee administration. His work has significantly influenced India's economic policy, including contributions to the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act. Lahiri's expertise extends to international finance, having worked with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, and he has also served as the executive director at the Asian Development Bank. His recent political journey includes winning a seat in the West Bengal Assembly for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In his book, *India In Search of Glory*, published in 2023, Lahiri argues that India's challenges in service delivery stem from insufficient investments in state capacity. His appointment raises expectations about how he will navigate the complexities of governance as vice chairman of NITI Aayog.