New Delhi: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Dr PD Vaghela (IAS) as the new Chairperson of Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) under the Department of Telecommunications. According to an order from the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Vaghela has been appointed to the post for a period of three years or until he attains the age of 65 years, or until further orders, whichever is the earlier. Vaghela is a 1986-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Gujarat cadre. He is currently working as Secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
Dr PD Vaghela (IAS) profile
Dr Vaghela is a commerce graduate (B Com) from HL College of Commerce of Gujarat University, Ahmedabad. He has also done MA in Public Management & Policy, post-graduation in Business Administration and Ph D in Sociology. He is a senior bureaucrat and had served various important positions in the state as well as in the union government. Prior to his current assignment in the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, he was serving as Commissioner of Commercial Tax in Gujarat. In the state government of Gujarat, he has served on various positions which include Chairman of Kandla Port Trust (KPT), Managing Director of Industries & Mines Department, Municipal Commissioner of Bhavnagar, Collector of Banaskantha, Collector & DM of Banaskantha, Commissioner in the Finance Department and Commissioner of Department of Rural Development among others.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is a statutory body set up by the government. It is the regulator of the telecommunications sector in India. It consists of a Chairperson and not more than two full-time members and not more than two part-time members. The TRAI Act was amended by an ordinance, effective from 24 January 2000, establishing a Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to take over the adjudicatory and disputes functions from TRAI. TRAI's mission is to create and nurture conditions for the growth of telecommunications in the country in a manner and at a pace which will enable India to play a leading role in an emerging global information society. One of the main objectives of TRAI is to provide a fair and transparent policy environment which promotes a level playing field and facilitates fair competition.
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