MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) new chairman RS Sharma has taken over his new position, effective 10 August. 

Prior to joining TRAI, Sharma was working as secretary to Government of India in the Department of Electronics and Information Technology. He has also worked as chief secretary to the State Government of Jharkhand (India).

Sharma's other assignments include director general and mission director of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) where he was responsible for over-all implementation of the project undertaken by the Government for providing Unique Identification to all its  residents. Before his posting with UIDAI, Sharma worked with the Government of Jharkhand as principal secretary of the Departments of Science and Technology, Drinking Water & Sanitation.

Sharma has held important positions both in the Government of India and State Governments in the past and has been deeply involved in the administrative reforms and leveraging IT to simplify administrative processes.

During his posting in the Government of India, he worked in the Department of Economic Affairs and dealt with bilateral and multilateral development agencies like World Bank, ADB, MIGA and GEF. He was also in-charge of Financing of Infrastructure projects in the Highways, Ports, Airports and Telecom sectors.