Former Union Minister and veteran economist Yoginder Alagh has passed away on Tuesday - December 6 at the age of 83 in Ahmedabad due to age-related ailments. His family has confirmed his demise and after learning about his passing away, several leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed their tribute and condolences to the bereaving family. 

Alagh had served as the Union Minister of State (Independent charge) for Planning and Programme Implementation, Science and Technology, and Power from 1996 to 1998. Alagh was elected to Rajya Sabha from Gujarat in November 1996. Alagh didn't have any strong political affiliations and rather, he spent his career towards economy and breathed his last as a prominent economist.

Alagh was born in February 1939 at Chakwal in Punjab, now in Pakistan. After completing his graduation in Rajasthan, Alagh secured a doctorate in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania in the U.S. He taught Economics at the University of Rajasthan, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, University of Jodhpur, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Alagh served as the seventh Vice-Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi and he was a founding member of Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology in Ahmedabad. Besides serving as the member of Planning Commission in the Indian government, Alagh had also headed various institutions and commissions and acted as an expert with several UN organizations. 

He was an emeritus professor at the Sardar Patel Institute of Economic and Social Research in Ahmedabad. His son Munish Alagh said his father was not doing well for some time and he breathed his last on Tuesday. Yoginder Alagh had also led the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) in Gujarat from 2006 to 2012 and speaking about his contribution, the current head of IRMA, Dr Umakant Dash remembered Alagh and his service. 

In a statement, Dash said, "He was chairman of IRMA from 2006-2012. In his tenure, he brought a sea-change to the Institute's culture and approach to its academic endeavours, particularly with the introduction of the crucial Academic Council." "Alagh's demise is an irreparable loss not only to IMRA but also to the whole nation", Dash added. 

Mourning Alagh's loss, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and wrote, "Professor YK Alagh was a distinguished scholar who was passionate about various aspects of public policy, particularly rural development, the environment and economics. Pained by his demise. I will cherish our interactions. My thoughts are with his family and friends. Om Shanti." 

Professor YK Alagh was a distinguished scholar who was passionate about various aspects of public policy, particularly rural development, the environment and economics. Pained by his demise. I will cherish our interactions. My thoughts are with his family and friends. Om Shanti.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 6, 2022