The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has officially named senior executive Harinder Kumar as its new Secretary. According to a formal communication issued by the regulatory body, the appointment is effective for an initial tenure of two years, with Kumar joining on a deputation basis under foreign service terms.
An officer of the prestigious Indian Telecom Service (ITS) cadre, Kumar transitions to the apex regulatory watchdog from state-run operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). Prior to this high-profile appointment, he was serving as the Chief General Manager (CGMT) of BSNL’s highly critical Maharashtra operational circle. Over a distinguished career spanning several decades, Kumar has held multiple prominent leadership roles across both BSNL and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), accumulating vast administrative, operational, and policy-centric expertise.
As Secretary, Kumar assumes charge of one of TRAI’s most vital senior bureaucratic posts, where he will lead core day-to-day operations and supervise institutional coordination. His entry coincides with an intensive period for the regulator, which is actively evaluating high-stakes matters like internet-based television services, digital connectivity rating frameworks, broadband expansion, and unsolicited spam communications on over-the-top (OTT) networks.
Industry analysts expect Kumar’s extensive hands-on experience within India’s public telecommunications ecosystem to strengthen TRAI’s operational execution. His administrative leadership will be crucial in maintaining structural continuity and managing complex stakeholder engagements as the country navigates large-scale 5G infrastructure rollouts and fast-moving digital policy reforms.
