Sen, Mittal, Nooyi in PM's panel

Economist Amartya Sen, business tycoon L N Mittal and Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi are among the members of a high-level panel headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh constituted to advise the government to draw upon experience of the best Indian minds abroad for a two-way engagement.

Minister of overseas Indian affairs Vyalar Ravi informed the Lok Sabha that the Global Advisory Council will develop an 'inclusive agenda' for engagement between the country and the best Indian brains living abroad.

Other panelists of the 23-member council includes external affairs minister S M Krishna, City group CEO Vikram Pandit, NRI entrepreneur Karan Bilimoria, economist Jagdish Bhagwati, educationist Sam Pitroda.

The minister said the council will also consider ways and means for accessing the skills and knowledge of Indian diaspora for meeting the country's development goals and facilitating investments by overseas Indians into the country.

"The council will serve as a platform for the prime minister to draw upon the experience, knowledge and wisdom of the best Indian minds wherever they may be based," Ravi, who is also member of the council, said.