Vishwanatha Named Vice-Chancellor of BASE

Rapid Summary:

• Thaawarchand Gehlot, Governor and Chancellor, appoints Prof. vishwanatha as Vice-Chancellor of Bengaluru Dr. B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics (BASE).
• prof. Vishwanatha is currently a Professor of Economics at Mangalore University.
• BASE had been without a permanent Vice-Chancellor as June 21, 2024, after the tenure of Prof. N.R. Bhanumurthy ended.
• D. Rajashekar served as in-charge V-C but retired on May 31, 2025, due to superannuation from his parent institution (Institute of Social and Economic Change).
• the delay in filling the position stemmed from a recommendation by the Higher Education Department panel to advertise applications at the national level.

Read more: Link

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The appointment of Prof. Vishwanatha as Vice-Chancellor could help stabilize administrative leadership at Bengaluru’s Dr. B.R Ambedkar school of Economics after more than a year-long vacancy in this critical position that aligns with national priorities for economic research and education policy development.

The reported delay highlights challenges within governance processes for higher education appointments in India-particularly balancing procedural rigor with operational efficiency-given that administrative gaps can affect institutional momentum over extended periods.

As institutions like BASE are integral to nurturing future economists and policymakers vital for India’s socio-economic growth, this decision allows for renewed focus on strategic academic objectives under new leadership after prolonged uncertainty.