Kalyanaraman Rajaraman has been appointed by the Center as the new secretary in DoT (Department of Telecommunications). He has replaced Anshu Prakash, who was the former DoT secretary. Notably, K Rajaraman is a Tamil Nadu cadre 1989-batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer. Currently, he is working as an additional secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA). K Rajaraman will take over his new role post the superannuation of Prakash on September 30, 2021.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet conveyed the decision about the appointment to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Notably, in August 2019, Prakash took over the role as the DoT secretary. He replaced Aruna Sundarajan, an IAS officer of the Kerala cadre 1982 batch. She retired on July 31, 2021, after playing the role for two years.
K Rajaraman Appointed As DoT Telecom Secretary
Back in 2018, Kalyanaraman Rajaraman was appointed as the additional secretary of investments in the Department of Economic Affairs with major responsibilities areas. He will look over Investment Protection Treaties (NPT) negotiations. He will oversee the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund. Furthermore, he worked towards fostering economic relations across the world, especially G20 and BRICS countries.
His appointment in the DoT as the secretary is seen as a step in the ambition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. This move will attract foreign direct investment (FDI) post the reform package to de-stress telcos, which was announced last week.
Notably, the telecom sector has been consolidated into a three-year player private market. In this market, the state-owned telcos Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) also operate.
Besides K Rajaraman, Rajiv Bansal, the Air India Chairman, has been appointed as the new aviation secretary as part of a major high-end bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre. Bansal is a 1988 batch lAS officer of Nagaland cadre, and he replaces Pradeep Singh Kharola upon his retirement this month.
Also, Steel Secretary Pradip Kumar Tripathi has been appointed as the Secretary of DoPT. Govind Mohan, Additional Secretary in the Department of Home, has been appointed as the Secretary, Ministry of Culture. Among the appointees is Anurag Jain, Vice Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority. He will play the role of Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
