Madhav Godbole (b.1936) has an M.A. in development economics (Williams College, Mass., USA) and an M.A. and Ph.D. in economics (University of Bombay). He joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1959 and resigned as Union Home Secretary. He has been Secretary, Urban Development and Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Principal Finance Secretary and Chairman of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board.

He has written eleven books in English and Marathi. He has co-authored the working paper, 'A Quest for Good Governance' based on his public interest litigation in the Supreme Court. He also writes on current issues in newspapers and reputed journals.

After retirement, he worked as chairman of several committees: state level economic reforms (Government of Jammu and Kashmir), co-operative sugar factories, Enron power project and power sector reforms, amongst others.

He is the recipient of Chinmulgund Public Administration Award and Dr. M. Visvesvarayya Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award.