Sam Pitroda, the Prime Minister’s adviser on infrastructure, is set to be appointed head of the National Innovation Council.
While a formal announcement is expected in the next few days, government officials said Planning Commission members Arun Maira and Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan would also be members. R Gopalakrishnan, additional secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, is likely to be appointed member-secretary.
The names of the other members could not be confirmed. When contacted, Pitroda, who holds over 100 patents, refused to comment.
Having worked in the US in the 1970s, Pitroda is widely credited with laying the foundation for India’s telecom revolution. During Rajiv Gandhi’s term as prime minister, he set up the Centre for Development of Telematics but returned to the US later. He made a comeback to India after the United Progressive Alliance came to power in 2004.
Pitroda was appointed as the chairman of the National Knowledge Commission and then headed a committee for suggesting changes at state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. Last year, the government also asked him to advise the Indian Railways on the use of information and communication technologies.
