from archive interview of V Srinivas
Serving as Joint Secretary in the
Ministry of Textiles (2010-14), he
handled commodity price volatility
in cotton, a crucial aspect for the
Indian textiles sector. He was
associated with sustained growth in
textiles exports, which went from
$18 billion in 2009 to $40 billion
in 2013. A significant contribution,
considering a billion dollars increase
in textiles exports creates 10 lakh
jobs.
Born to a mother far ahead of her
times, who studied law in the early
1960s, and an entomologist father,
who spent his years implementing
the National Malaria Eradication
Program; young Srinivas passed
his early years in remote malariainfested
tribal villages of Andhra
Pradesh. Chanting the Vedas and
reading the Sanskrit scriptures
was part of life from a tender
age, and he thanks his parents for
Digital economy ecosystem
discussed
Ministry of Corporate
Affairs Secretary
Injeti Srinivas has
suggested undertaking competition
assessments of sectors being
impacted by digital technologies,
wherein the Competition
Commission of India (CCI) also
has a proactive role to play.
Speaking at an event organized
by CUTS International and CIRC
on ‘Digital Economy – Hitting the
reset button on competition and
regulatory governance’, Mr Srinivas
pressed the need for digitalisation
of the economy and bridging the
digital divide to achieve India’s
target of becoming a US$5tn
economy by 2024-25.
He also confirmed providing a
window of three-weeks for public
consultation on the proposed
Competition (Amendment) Bill
2019.
Bharatiya Janata Party National
Spokesperson (Economics
Affairs) Gopal Krishna Agarwal
highlighted the disruptive nature
of digital economy, and iterated
the need for optimal regulation.
Fair competition, and protection
of intellectual property rights, was
suggested for spurring domestic
innovation. Need for building
capacity and competitiveness
amongst domestic industry players
was mentioned as an imperative,
since protectionism was not a longterm
solution.
CCI Chairperson Ashok Kumar
Gupta stressed on the need for
evidence-based research driving
policy making in India. Recognising
that digital markets are not
impervious to anti-competitive
practices, he highlighted the
importance of timely detection and
intervention of antitrust issues in
the new age digital economy, which
would ensure inclusive growth.
CUTS International Secretary
General Pradeep Mehta noted
instilling in him values such as
incorruptibility.
“From studying in a Panchayat
school in Araku Valley to the IMF
Executive Board in Washington
DC (he was advisor to Executive
Director IMF during 2003-06) is a
long journey for me. It enabled me to
appreciate that India is a meritocracy
where commitment and hard work
coupled with honesty and integrity
will always be rewarded.”
competition and regulatory
regimes as tools to guide fair
markets to function efficiently and
promote economic growth. He
questioned the need to redesign
such tools to navigate effectively
in an increasingly online and
digitally enabled economy.
Chairperson of Parliamentary
Standing Committee on
Information Technology Shashi
Tharoor, while in a conversation
with Nitin Desai, President,
CUTS Institute for Regulation
and Competition (CIRC),
highlighted the many lowlights
of The Personal Data Protection
Bill with respect to lack of
independence of the proposed
Data Protection Authority, vast
exemptions given to government
agencies without adequate
oversight, restrictions placed on
cross-border data flow etc.
48 February 2020 | www.smartgovernance.in