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| predecessor2        = [[Rahul Khullar]]
| predecessor2        = [[Rahul Khullar]]
| successor2          = PD Vaghela
| successor2          = PD Vaghela
| office3              = Director General, [[Aadhaar#Unique_Identification_Authority|Unique Identification Authority of India]]
| office3              = Director General, [[Aadhaar#Unique Identification Authority|Unique Identification Authority of India]]
| termend3            =  31 March 2013
| termend3            =  31 March 2013
| termstart3          = 31 July 2009
| termstart3          = 31 July 2009
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}}
}}


'''Ram Sewak Sharma''' is a former Indian bureaucrat. He was the first Director General of the [[Aadhaar#Unique Identification Authority|Unique Identification Authority of India]] and was subsequently appointed as the Chairman of [[Telecom Regulatory Authority of India]] (TRAI) . After his retirement, he was appointed as the CEO of the [[National Health Authority]] of India which administers the [[Ayushman Bharat Yojana]] health protection scheme.<ref>{{cite web |title=RS Sharma to take over as CEO, National Health Authority. |url=https://ehealth.eletsonline.com/2021/01/rs-sharma-to-take-over-as-ceo-national-health-authority/ |website=eHealth |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>  
'''Ram Sewak Sharma''' is a former Indian bureaucrat. He was the first Director General of the [[Aadhaar#Unique Identification Authority|Unique Identification Authority of India]] and was subsequently appointed as the Chairman of [[Telecom Regulatory Authority of India]] (TRAI) . After his retirement, he was appointed as the CEO of the [[National Health Authority]] of India which administers the [[Ayushman Bharat Yojana]] health protection scheme.<ref>{{cite web |title=RS Sharma to take over as CEO, National Health Authority. |url=https://ehealth.eletsonline.com/2021/01/rs-sharma-to-take-over-as-ceo-national-health-authority/ |website=eHealth |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
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==Career==
==Career==
Ram Sewak Sharma joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1978.He belongs to the Jharkhand cadre.<ref name="bio">{{cite web |title=Complete Biodata |url=https://supremo.nic.in/ERSheetHtml.aspx?OffIDErhtml=6985&PageId= |website=Ministry of Personnel |publisher=Government of India |access-date=2 March 2021 |ref=bio}}</ref>
Ram Sewak Sharma joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1978.He belongs to the Jharkhand cadre.<ref name="bio">{{cite web |title=Complete Biodata |url=https://supremo.nic.in/ERSheetHtml.aspx?OffIDErhtml=6985&PageId= |website=Ministry of Personnel |publisher=Government of India |access-date=2 March 2021 |ref=bio}}</ref>
In 1986, he wrote a program in [[DBASE]], a programming language that would keep a record of all stolen firearms in the crime-prone district. As soon as a firearm would be found, the programme would run a search query among thousands of age-old records. This software enabled the solving of 22 cases in just 30 days.<ref name="ET">{{cite news | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-07-20/news/27632558_1_programme-uid-biometrics | title=UID will give mobile identity to people | work=[[The Economic Times]] | date=20 July 2010 | access-date=1 April 2013 | author=Julka, Harsimran}}</ref>  
In 1986, he wrote a program in [[DBASE]], a programming language that would keep a record of all stolen firearms in the crime-prone district. As soon as a firearm would be found, the programme would run a search query among thousands of age-old records. This software enabled the solving of 22 cases in just 30 days.<ref name="ET">{{cite news | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-07-20/news/27632558_1_programme-uid-biometrics | title=UID will give mobile identity to people | work=[[The Economic Times]] | date=20 July 2010 | access-date=1 April 2013 | author=Julka, Harsimran}}</ref>


He held responsibilities in his home cadre of Jharkhand as well as in ministries of the Central government, including, as Secretary, Department of Electronics and Information Technology and Chief Secretary of Jharkhand .<ref name="bio" />  
He held responsibilities in his home cadre of Jharkhand as well as in ministries of the Central government, including, as Secretary, Department of Electronics and Information Technology and Chief Secretary of Jharkhand .<ref name="bio" />


===UIDAI===
===UIDAI===
As the first Director General of the [[Aadhaar#Unique Identification Authority|Unique Identification Authority of India]], he helped create the 12-digit identity number, called [[Aadhaar]], which is available to all eligible residents in India. He has authored a book titled ''The Making of Aadhaar: World's Largest Identity Platform'' ({{ISBN|9390356121}}) describing this project.<ref name="aadhaar">{{cite web |title=‘Making of Aadhaar’ — new book presents candid, first-hand account of how the ID was created |url=https://theprint.in/softcover/making-of-aadhaar-new-book-presents-candid-first-hand-account-of-how-the-id-was-created/497484/ |website=The Print |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>
As the first Director General of the [[Aadhaar#Unique Identification Authority|Unique Identification Authority of India]], he helped create the 12-digit identity number, called [[Aadhaar]], which is available to all eligible residents in India. He has authored a book titled ''The Making of Aadhaar: World's Largest Identity Platform'' ({{ISBN|9390356121}}) describing this project.<ref name="aadhaar">{{cite web |title=‘Making of Aadhaar’ — new book presents candid, first-hand account of how the ID was created |url=https://theprint.in/softcover/making-of-aadhaar-new-book-presents-candid-first-hand-account-of-how-the-id-was-created/497484/ |website=The Print |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>
===TRAI===
===TRAI===
He was appointed the Chairman of [[Telecom Regulatory Authority of India]] (TRAI) from August 2015 for a period of three years. At the end of this tenure, he was given a further extension of two years.<ref name="extension">{{cite web |title=R S Sharma re-appointed TRAI chairperson till 2020 |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/r-s-sharma-re-appointed-trai-chairperson-till-2020/article24643471.ece |website=Business Line |publisher=Hindu |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>
He was appointed the Chairman of [[Telecom Regulatory Authority of India]] (TRAI) from August 2015 for a period of three years. At the end of this tenure, he was given a further extension of two years.<ref name="extension">{{cite web |title=R S Sharma re-appointed TRAI chairperson till 2020 |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/r-s-sharma-re-appointed-trai-chairperson-till-2020/article24643471.ece |website=Business Line |publisher=Hindu |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>
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===NHA===
===NHA===
As CEO, NHA, he has the responsibility of spearheading the national effort of providing Covid19 vaccines to the Indian population.<ref>{{cite web |title=RS Sharma: Vaccinating India |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/videos/shows/on-the-record-rs-sharma-vaccinating-india-101614599121476-amp.html |website=Hindustan Times |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>
As CEO, NHA, he is responsible for managing the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana ([[PMJAY|PM-JAY]]),the national health insurance program in India.
 
As the Chairperson of '''Empowered Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19''',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mookerji |first=Nivedita |date=2021-01-09 |title=RS Sharma, former Trai chief, to head empowered panel for Covid-19 vaccine |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/rs-sharma-former-trai-chief-to-head-empowered-panel-for-covid-19-vaccine-121010900353_1.html |access-date=2022-06-05}}</ref> Dr Sharma helped create and administer [[CoWIN]], the web portal for management of vaccination in India.<ref>{{cite web |title=RS Sharma: Vaccinating India |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/videos/shows/on-the-record-rs-sharma-vaccinating-india-101614599121476-amp.html |access-date=2 March 2021 |website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> Close to 2 billion doses of the Covid-19 vaccines have been delivered under this programme till the first week of June 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CoWIN Dashboard |url=https://dashboard.cowin.gov.in/ |access-date=2022-06-05 |website=dashboard.cowin.gov.in}}</ref>
 
== Controversies ==
== Controversies ==
In 2018, Sharma dismissed concerns regarding privacy and potential misuse of India's national biometric ID, and disclosed his Aadhar number on twitter, challenging users to “do any harm to me.” and stating that the purpose of the challenge was "... to debunk the theory that Aadhaar compromises the privacy of the person.”<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2018-07-29|title=TRAI chief's Aadhar dare backfires, personal details put online|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/trai-chiefs-aadhar-dare-backfires-personal-details-put-online/article24544828.ece|access-date=2020-12-14|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-07-31|title=TRAI chief's Aadhaar challenge decoded: Why R S Sharma gave out his Aadhaar number|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/aadhaar-card/trai-chiefs-aadhar-challenge-decoded-why-r-s-sharma-gave-out-his-aadhar-number/1264177/|access-date=2020-12-14|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US}}</ref> Following this, individual researchers were able to locate his personal address, the number of the mobile phone he used as well as an alternate phone number that he used, his [[WhatsApp|Whatsapp]] profile picture, his voter identification card and his tax identification card ([[PAN card]]). Sharma dismissed these disclosures on Twitter, stating that the information could not be used to harm him.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-07-29|title=Personal details of TRAI chief RS Sharma 'leaked' after open challenge on Twitter- Technology News, Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/personal-details-of-trai-chief-rs-sharma-leaked-after-open-challenge-on-twitter-4844361.html|access-date=2020-12-14|website=Tech2}}</ref> The information was used to make a symbolic deposit of {{INR}}1 in one of his bank accounts, to demonstrate the potential for misuse.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Jul 30|first1=Rachel Chitra / TNN / Updated|last2=2018|last3=Ist|first3=17:02|title=Hackers deposit Re 1 in Trai chief's account {{!}} India News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hackers-deposit-re-1-in-trai-chiefs-account/articleshow/65190556.cms|access-date=2020-12-14|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> The UIDAI made a statement indicating that this personal information concerning Mr. Sharma was already in the public domain.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-07-29|title=Trai chief's personal details not taken from Aadhaar database: UIDAI|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/trai-chief-s-personal-details-not-fetched-from-aadhaar-database-servers-uidai/story-p155PgKW0Y2L24YXeYcolK.html|access-date=2020-12-14|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> In December 2020, Sharma's Aadhar number was used to fraudulently register him for an agricultural benefit scheme, the [[PM Kisan Yojana]], as a result of which benefits that he was not eligible for were deposited into his account. Sharma has blamed the state government for failing to conduct adequate verification.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=DelhiDecember 14|first1=Yasmin Ahmed New|last2=December 14|first2=2020UPDATED|last3=Ist|first3=2020 17:47|title=Former UIDAI chief RS Sharma suffers Aadhaar fraud, Rs 6000 PM Kisan fund deposited in his account|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/former-uidai-chief-rs-sharma-suffers-aadhaar-fraud-rs-6000-pm-kisan-fund-deposited-in-his-account-1749464-2020-12-14|access-date=2020-12-14|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>
In 2018, Sharma dismissed concerns regarding privacy and potential misuse of India's national biometric ID, and disclosed his Aadhar number on twitter, challenging users to “do any harm to me.” and stating that the purpose of the challenge was "... to debunk the theory that Aadhaar compromises the privacy of the person.”<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2018-07-29|title=TRAI chief's Aadhar dare backfires, personal details put online|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/trai-chiefs-aadhar-dare-backfires-personal-details-put-online/article24544828.ece|access-date=2020-12-14|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-07-31|title=TRAI chief's Aadhaar challenge decoded: Why R S Sharma gave out his Aadhaar number|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/aadhaar-card/trai-chiefs-aadhar-challenge-decoded-why-r-s-sharma-gave-out-his-aadhar-number/1264177/|access-date=2020-12-14|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US}}</ref> Following this, individual researchers were able to locate his personal address, the number of the mobile phone he used as well as an alternate phone number that he used, his [[WhatsApp|Whatsapp]] profile picture, his voter identification card and his tax identification card ([[PAN card]]). Sharma dismissed these disclosures on Twitter, stating that the information could not be used to harm him.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-07-29|title=Personal details of TRAI chief RS Sharma 'leaked' after open challenge on Twitter- Technology News, Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/personal-details-of-trai-chief-rs-sharma-leaked-after-open-challenge-on-twitter-4844361.html|access-date=2020-12-14|website=Tech2}}</ref> The information was used to make a symbolic deposit of {{INR}}1 in one of his bank accounts, to demonstrate the potential for misuse.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Rachel Chitra|date=Jul 30, 2018|title=Hackers deposit Re 1 in Trai chief's account {{!}} India News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hackers-deposit-re-1-in-trai-chiefs-account/articleshow/65190556.cms|access-date=2020-12-14|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> The UIDAI made a statement indicating that this personal information concerning Mr. Sharma was already in the public domain.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-07-29|title=Trai chief's personal details not taken from Aadhaar database: UIDAI|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/trai-chief-s-personal-details-not-fetched-from-aadhaar-database-servers-uidai/story-p155PgKW0Y2L24YXeYcolK.html|access-date=2020-12-14|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> In December 2020, Sharma's Aadhar number was used to fraudulently register him for an agricultural benefit scheme, the [[PM Kisan Yojana]], as a result of which benefits that he was not eligible for were deposited into his account. Sharma has blamed the state government for failing to conduct adequate verification.<ref>{{Cite magazine|author=Yasmin Ahmed |date=December 14, 2020 |title=Former UIDAI chief RS Sharma suffers Aadhaar fraud, Rs 6000 PM Kisan fund deposited in his account|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/former-uidai-chief-rs-sharma-suffers-aadhaar-fraud-rs-6000-pm-kisan-fund-deposited-in-his-account-1749464-2020-12-14|access-date=2020-12-14|magazine=India Today|language=en}}</ref>


==Awards==
==Awards==
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==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}
==External Links==
 
[https://supremo.nic.in/ERSheetHtml.aspx?OffIDErhtml=6985&PageId= Complete Biodata]
==External links==
* [https://supremo.nic.in/ERSheetHtml.aspx?OffIDErhtml=6985&PageId= Complete Biodata]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, Ram Sewak}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, Ram Sewak}}
[[Category:Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur alumni]]
[[Category:IIT Kanpur alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of California, Riverside alumni]]
[[Category:University of California, Riverside alumni]]
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Indian Administrative Service officers]]
[[Category:Indian Administrative Service officers]]

Revision as of 18:25, 7 June 2022

Ram Sewak Sharma
CEO, National Health Authority
Assumed office
01 February 2021
Preceded byIndu Bhushan
Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
In office
20 August 2015 – 30 September 2020
Preceded byRahul Khullar
Succeeded byPD Vaghela
Director General, Unique Identification Authority of India
In office
31 July 2009 – 31 March 2013
Succeeded byVijay Madan
Personal details
Born(1955-10-01)1 October 1955
NationalityIndian
Occupationcivil servant

Ram Sewak Sharma is a former Indian bureaucrat. He was the first Director General of the Unique Identification Authority of India and was subsequently appointed as the Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) . After his retirement, he was appointed as the CEO of the National Health Authority of India which administers the Ayushman Bharat Yojana health protection scheme.[1]

Early life and education

Born in a small village of Uttar Pradesh, he completed his early education from schools near his village. He joined University of Allahabad from where he earned his Bachelor of Science (BSc). He completed his masters in Mathematics from IIT, Kanpur, in 1978.[2] While on leave from the Government of India, he earned a Masters in Computer Science from University of California, Riverside in 2002[3] and subsequently a PhD from IIT, Delhi.[4]

Career

Ram Sewak Sharma joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1978.He belongs to the Jharkhand cadre.[5] In 1986, he wrote a program in DBASE, a programming language that would keep a record of all stolen firearms in the crime-prone district. As soon as a firearm would be found, the programme would run a search query among thousands of age-old records. This software enabled the solving of 22 cases in just 30 days.[6]

He held responsibilities in his home cadre of Jharkhand as well as in ministries of the Central government, including, as Secretary, Department of Electronics and Information Technology and Chief Secretary of Jharkhand .[5]

UIDAI

As the first Director General of the Unique Identification Authority of India, he helped create the 12-digit identity number, called Aadhaar, which is available to all eligible residents in India. He has authored a book titled The Making of Aadhaar: World's Largest Identity Platform (ISBN 9390356121) describing this project.[7]

TRAI

He was appointed the Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) from August 2015 for a period of three years. At the end of this tenure, he was given a further extension of two years.[8] As Chairman of TRAI, he steered the adoption of net neutrality regulations in India. He has taken measures to enable consumer choice in determining market outcomes, e.g. a new framework for broadcasting and cable services,[9] regulations for mobile number portability,[10] and the use of crowd-sourced information or field measurements to inform customers[11] As the TRAI chairman, his goal to gradually reduce Interconnect Usage Charges earned him acclaim from some and criticism from others. Critics allege that the decision is biased towards Jio while those defending TRAI claim that reducing these charges was necessary for the continuous growth of the sector.[12]

NHA

As CEO, NHA, he is responsible for managing the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY),the national health insurance program in India.

As the Chairperson of Empowered Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19,[13] Dr Sharma helped create and administer CoWIN, the web portal for management of vaccination in India.[14] Close to 2 billion doses of the Covid-19 vaccines have been delivered under this programme till the first week of June 2022.[15]

Controversies

In 2018, Sharma dismissed concerns regarding privacy and potential misuse of India's national biometric ID, and disclosed his Aadhar number on twitter, challenging users to “do any harm to me.” and stating that the purpose of the challenge was "... to debunk the theory that Aadhaar compromises the privacy of the person.”[16][17] Following this, individual researchers were able to locate his personal address, the number of the mobile phone he used as well as an alternate phone number that he used, his Whatsapp profile picture, his voter identification card and his tax identification card (PAN card). Sharma dismissed these disclosures on Twitter, stating that the information could not be used to harm him.[16][18] The information was used to make a symbolic deposit of ₹1 in one of his bank accounts, to demonstrate the potential for misuse.[19] The UIDAI made a statement indicating that this personal information concerning Mr. Sharma was already in the public domain.[20] In December 2020, Sharma's Aadhar number was used to fraudulently register him for an agricultural benefit scheme, the PM Kisan Yojana, as a result of which benefits that he was not eligible for were deposited into his account. Sharma has blamed the state government for failing to conduct adequate verification.[21]

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "RS Sharma to take over as CEO, National Health Authority". eHealth. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  2. ↑ Jain, Akshai (1 January 2010). "Ram Sewak Sharma | A different drummer". Mint. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "Ram Sewak Sharma | University of California, Riverside - Academia.edu". ucriverside.academia.edu. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  4. ↑ Pandey, Navadha. "R.S. Sharma, outspoken Trai chairman with a flair for technology, retires today". Mint. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Complete Biodata". Ministry of Personnel. Government of India. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  6. ↑ Julka, Harsimran (20 July 2010). "UID will give mobile identity to people". The Economic Times. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  7. ↑ "'Making of Aadhaar' — new book presents candid, first-hand account of how the ID was created". The Print. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  8. ↑ "R S Sharma re-appointed TRAI chairperson till 2020". Business Line. Hindu. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  9. ↑ "Regulation and Amendment". Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  10. ↑ "Mobile Number Portability". Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  11. ↑ "TRAI Analytics". analytics.trai.gov.in. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  12. ↑ Block, Daniel. "How Reliance Jio is monopolising the telecom sector". The Caravan. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  13. ↑ Mookerji, Nivedita (9 January 2021). "RS Sharma, former Trai chief, to head empowered panel for Covid-19 vaccine". Business Standard India. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "RS Sharma: Vaccinating India". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  15. ↑ "CoWIN Dashboard". dashboard.cowin.gov.in. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "TRAI chief's Aadhar dare backfires, personal details put online". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 29 July 2018. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 December 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  17. ↑ "TRAI chief's Aadhaar challenge decoded: Why R S Sharma gave out his Aadhaar number". The Financial Express. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  18. ↑ "Personal details of TRAI chief RS Sharma 'leaked' after open challenge on Twitter- Technology News, Firstpost". Tech2. 29 July 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  19. ↑ Rachel Chitra (30 July 2018). "Hackers deposit Re 1 in Trai chief's account | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  20. ↑ "Trai chief's personal details not taken from Aadhaar database: UIDAI". Hindustan Times. 29 July 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  21. ↑ Yasmin Ahmed (14 December 2020). "Former UIDAI chief RS Sharma suffers Aadhaar fraud, Rs 6000 PM Kisan fund deposited in his account". India Today. Retrieved 14 December 2020.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ram_Sewak_Sharma&oldid=327940"
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