Central bank should enjoy autonomy: Kaushik Basu

World Bank chief economist Kaushik Basu today said that it is extremely important that the central bank enjoys autonomy.

Asked about the proposed monetary policy panel, Basu said, "In general it is extremely important that the central bank has autonomy," Basu said on the sidelines of an IIM-Calcutta lecture when asked about the proposed monetary panel.

The panel aims to institutionalise decision making on interest and inflation.

The monetary policy committee or panel is likely to be composed of six voting members: three from RBI and three government-appointed members with Governor having overriding power with casting vote in case of tie.

Basu, who is rumoured to be in the race for the RBI's top job, declined to comment.

According to reports, Basu, who is stepping down as the World Bank's chief economist, made it to a shortlist of candidates to take over as RBI Governor after incumbent Raghuram Rajan's term expires on September 4.

RBI deputy governor Urjit Patel, former deputy governor Subir Gokarn and State Bank of India Chair Arundhati Bhattacharya are also in the fray, the reports suggested.