India's appointment of former central bank governor Shaktikanta Das as a key aide to Prime Minister Narendra Modi reinforces his focus on the country's economy at a time when it is facing domestic and external challenges.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the World Bank has expressed confidence that India will continue to be the world's fastest growing economy in the coming years.

India appointed former Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das as a principal secretary to the prime minister, a powerful position where he will advise Narendra Modi on local and foreign policies.

India on Saturday appointed its former central bank chief Shaktikanta Das as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's principal secretary, according to a government notice. The appointment comes after Das finished his second term at the helm of the Reserve Bank of India in December last year,