Pulok Chatterji was born in 1951. He completed his schooling in Bombay (now Mumbai), and studied Economics at St. Stephen's College and the Delhi School of Economics. Then, he taught Economics at St. Stephen's before being selected for the Indian Administrative Service in 1974. He retired from government service in 2011 as Executive Director, World Bank and served as Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Dr. Man Mohan Singh till 2014.
Pulok met his future wife, Jaya Srinivasan in 1970 when they were doing their post-graduation together in the Delhi School of Economics. Pulok and Jaya were married on 25 February, 1975.
Born on November 2, 1949, Jaya did her schooling in Cairo and Kampala. She graduated with Economics Honors from Miranda House, Delhi and completed her Masters in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics. After teaching Economics for a few years in the College of Vocational Studies, Delhi, Jaya got her PhD from the Benaras Hindu University.
Jaya's professional life was subsequently devoted to the environment and social development sectors. She worked in the Society for Promotion of Wasteland Development, The Indo-Canadian Environment Facility, and the Asian Development Bank. Jaya loved her work and started and steered many innovative projects in various parts of India.
