1990 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre and India’s Electronics and Information Technology Secretary Alkesh Kumar Sharma has been appointed to a panel of eminent experts on internet governance in UN by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Sharma had earlier served as the additional chief secretary-industries of the Kerala govt from May 2020 to April 2021. From September 2019 to April 2021 Sharma was the Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail as well as CEO of Cochin Smart City Mission. Sharma has his task cut out at MEITY. He will be responsible for smooth implementation of the $10 billion semiconductor incentive scheme to boost chip manufacturing and design facilities in the country.

Sharma will also be required to implement MEITY’s 1,000-day agenda which looks to make India a $1 trillion digital economy over the next few years. Under the programme the Union ministry is tasked to make India the largest connected nation in the world, bringing coherence into digital governance, simplifying rules and legislations for technology and social media companies, and focusing on building India’s high-tech prowess.