As per the changes being considered under the upcoming Telecommunications Bill, the amendment could specify that the regulator’s chairperson can be from the private sector. The requirements for the post could include individuals from the private sector who have held board positions or been the chief executive officer, with professional experience of at least 30 years.

According to the current rules, a TRAI member must have held the post of Secretary or Additional Secretary to the Government of India, or any equivalent post in the central or state government, for at least three years. However, no rules are specified for the post of chairperson. Current TRAI chairperson P D Vaghela (IAS: 1986: GJ) and was earlier Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals. His predecessor, R S Sharma (IAS: 1978: JH), was the IT Secretary from 2014 to 2015.

There is a proposal that a person who has never worked in the government can be appointed as the chairperson of TRAI if they have at least 30 years of professional experience at a senior level, such as a board member or chief executive officer. This would essentially mean an amendment to Section 4 of the TRAI Act, 1997, under which the Centre is empowered to appoint the chairperson and members of the regulatory body who have special knowledge of, and professional experience in, telecommunication, industry, finance, accountancy, law, management or consumer affairs.