KEY STRENGTHS

 Presently working President, Global Relations, Adani Group. Responsible for facilitating the Group’s international
outreach, including holistic approach to new international projects & the Group’s international strategy.
Earlier worked as Director - World Trade Organisation (the first Indian civil servant to have held this post).
Over 22 years of international experience (2000-2022) with proven expertise in the area of International Economic
Policy, Infrastructure Development, International Trade regulations, and other economic policies used to foster
economic growth development.
An excellent overview and understanding of the International Financial Architecture, including of the developmental
challenges faced by many developing economies of the world; worked closely with the World Bank, IMF,
UNCTAD, UNDP, OECD etc.
 A long experience of assisting Governments in Africa and Asia in their economic and fiscal policy formulation,
infrastructure planning, development, and execution, in obtaining financial assistance.
Also, over 20 years' experience (1980-2000) of working as a senior Indian Administrative Service officer both in the
State of Uttar Pradesh and at the federal level in New Delhi, including with the Cabinet Secretary in the Government
of India, dealing with Economic, Finance, Industrial and Infrastructure Ministries.
 Core development background brought about by work done on core 'economic, trade and development issues' in the
WTO, and the exposure at the grass root level to the developmental realities and practical challenges that need to be
overcome.
 Very well-established research and teaching credentials, borne out by a very large number of publications in
international journals and through teaching assignments in a large number of Universities.
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
1993-94 Master of Arts (Economics) University of Reading, UK, Gold Medal, 1st position in University

1977-79 Master of Science (Nuclear Physics), Delhi University, India, Gold Medal, 1st Position in University

1974-77 Bachelor of Science, St. Stephens College, Delhi University, India, Gold Medal, 1st Position in University

1969-73 Indian School Certificate, The Doon School, Dehradun (5-Pointer; Academic Blazer)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2007 to 2022: Director, WTO, Geneva
As the Director (Development) in the WTO, I am responsible for supervising the work on all trade related developmental
issues in the organisation, directed towards enhancing the trade share of developing countries. Core experience and
proven expertise in the area of international economic policy, infrastructure development and an excellent overview and
understanding of the international financial architecture and economic policies used to foster economic growth
development, including by reducing current account deficits and controlling inflationary pressures.
1997 - 2006: Senior Counsellor, WTO, Geneva
Initially worked as Counsellor in the Indian Mission to the WTO, where I was responsible for following up India's
interest in the different WTO bodies, including liaising with the different economic Ministries in Government of India
and working of as Charge-de-affaires of the Indian Mission. Later moved to the WTO, where my responsibilitiesincluded
helping developing countries build their supply side capacity and trade related infrastructure; worked closely with
multilateral financing institutions as well as regional development banks in addressing multifaceted problems and
ensuring availability and uninterrupted flow of funds.

1980 - 1997: Various field and Secretariat level postings in Government of India
As an officer of the Indian Administrative service, I wasinvolved planning, implementing and administrative monitoring
of a large number of socio-economic development programmes being implemented at the grass root level in the State of
Uttar Pradesh. Served as District Magistrate, Dehradun for two and a half years; did a lot of ground breaking work in
forestation (post the lime stone quarrying); in the spread of adult education; in having numerous conversations and
negotiations with the Uttarakhand movement leaders; in leading the relief operations post the Garhwal earthquake; and in
addressing numerous educational related administrative matters.
I also did a stint as one of the two Directors in India's Cabinet Office, I assisted the Cabinet Secretary, in the work
relating to various Economic Ministries. This involved inter- ministerial coordination, facilitating COS meetings, as well
as assisting in preparing evaluatory and analytical proposals on various issues related to a number of economic and
infrastructure ministries. Was also responsible for some of the most sensitive and confidential issues relating to economic
intelligence and financial oversight.

ARTICLES & PUBLICATIONS

Food aid and the WTO Negotiations on agriculture, 2001
 EU-LDC Network: Issues in Merchandise Trade (Agriculture), 2001
 Proposal for a ‘Development Box’ in the WTO Agreement on Agriculture, South Centre, 2001
 The need for a 'Special Safeguard Mechanism', South Centre, 2002.
 Reforming Global Trade in Agriculture : A developing country perspective, Trade, Development and Equity
series, 2002
 Agriculture, Market Access, and Development in the WTO, Trade, Development &Equity series, 2002
 Decision making processes in India: the case of the agriculture negotiations; published in 'Managing the
Challenges of WTO participation'; Cambridge University Press, 2005
 Special & Differential Treatment in the WTO: Options for Reform; 'The World Trade Brief; 2005
 'Trade Matters'; Business Standard; October 2010
 Doha Round & Securing a Development Friendly Istanbul Programme of Action for LDCs: A WTO
Perspective, Commonwealth Trade Topic Series; Issue 84, April 2011
 Post 2015 Development Agenda-Role of Trade-Led Economic Growth; World Trade Journal; 2012
 Build up to the Ninth WTO Ministerial Conference: Issues of Interest to LDCs, Commonwealth Trade Topic
Series; Issue 98, April 2013
 Empowering the Poor - The Successes & Limitations of the Bali Package for the LDCs; Narlikar and
Priyadarshi; Third World Quarterly, University of London, 2014
 The Bali LDC Package: How to Take It Forward - Commonwealth Trade Topic series; Issue 106, April 2014;
 International Norms on Global Oil and Gas Trade: A Non-Starter? Infraline Plus; October 2014
 Energy, Power and the WTO; WTO Publications; February 2015
 Least developed countries in the WTO: Growing Voice; The Oxford Handbook on the WTO; 2015

ACADEMIC AFFILIATIONS

Visiting lecturer in the London School of Economics, where I have delivered seminars as part of the ESRC-EU
research seminar network series.
 Guest faculty at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad and at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
where I have taught a module on "International Trade, the WTO and India".
 Visiting Faculty at the World Trade Institute, Bern, and the University of Barcelona (IELPO programme) in
both of which I teach modules on 'Trade & Development – a developing country perspective'.
 In addition, I have presented papers and taught in the University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong;
University of Namibia; University of Beijing; National University of Singapore; and the University of Johannesburg.

INTERESTS
 Avid Photographer, with two coffee table books having been published
 Keen cyclist: in fact, one of the coffee table books is titled 'Cyclographic tryst with Delhi's Parks'
 Occasionally dabbles in writing poetry and satirical articles.
 Die-hard cricket fan.