Ashok Kumar Gupta

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Ashok Kumar Gupta
Photo CP.jpg
Chair of the Competition Commission of India
Assumed office
12 November 2018
Preceded byDevender Kumar Sikri
Personal details
Born26 October 1957
NationalityIndian
Spouse(s)Dr. Priti Gupta
EducationDelhi University (Mechanical Engineering)
Syracuse University (M.P.A.)
University of Madras (M.Phil.)
ProfessionCivil Servant

Ashok Kumar Gupta (Hindi: अशोक कुमार गुप्ता) is a 1981 Batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre. He has had an illustrious career of 40 years in public service spanning across sectors from industry, finance, and health to defence production. Prior to his appointment as the Chair of the Competition Commission of India in 2018, he held several key positions in the Central Government, such as Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Defence Production, where he was responsible for liberalising the licensing regime and FDI policy. Previously, he held several positions in the Ministries of Health, Heavy Industries, Shipping, MSME, Commerce & Industry. While posted as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health, he dealt with matters relating to International Cooperation, World Bank, and WHO projects.

He was instrumental in formulating several government policies such as Automobile Policy, Prime Minister’s Rojgar Yojana, ‘Make’ Procedure in defence procurement and establishing Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Delhi. He has extensive experience in Industry, has headed and turned around State Public Sector Units and served on the Boards of Central and State PSUs such as Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., Heavy Engineering Corporation, Tamil Nadu Cements and many others. Before moving to the Centre, he held various positions with the Tamil Nadu Government. Some of his appointments include, CMD, Tamil Nadu Cements, Special Secretary (Finance) and Distt. Magistrate, Villupuram. A gold medallist in Mechanical Engineering from Delhi University, he also holds a Post-Graduate degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University (USA) and an M.Phil. degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from Madras University.[1]

Education[]

Gupta received his degree in mechanical engineering from Delhi University (Gold medallist). He later attended Syracuse University (SU) in the United States, where he received his Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree. While at SU, Gupta did his Master's project on Regulatory Framework for Health Care Organisations in India, which culminated in the Central Government enacting The Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010.

Gupta went on to receive his M.Phil. in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Madras.

Career[]

As an IAS Officer[]

Gupta joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1981 and in his career as an IAS officer spanning over 36 years, he served in various key posts in both Union and Tamil Nadu Governments as well as in Central and State Public Sector Units.  He served as Secretary, Department of Defence Production, Government of India, Additional/Special Secretary, Department of Defence Production, Government of India, Joint Secretary, Department of Defence, Government of India, Joint Secy. & Sr. Directing Staff, National Defence College, Joint Secretary, Department of Health, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Director, Department of Heavy Industry, Government of India, Director, Department of Small Scale Industries, Ministry of Industry, Government of India, Special Secretary, Finance, Government of Tamil Nadu, Additional Secretary/Special Secretary, Prohibition & Excise, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chairman & Managing  Director, Tamil Nadu Cements, Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Steels, Deputy Chairman, Chennai Port Trust.[1]

Secretary, Defence Production[]

Gupta was appointed as Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Defence Production on 15 May 2015.[2] As Secretary, Defence Production, he was responsible for liberalising the licensing regime and Foreign Direct Investment policy. Under his leadership, a number of measures were taken to harness the potential in the public and private sector to meet the defence requirement of India and boost indigenous capabilities in the defence sector and facilitate progressive reduction in imports.  These measures included according of priority and preference to procurement from Indian vendors, liberalization of the licensing regime and enabling access to modern and state-of-the-art technology to Indian industry by raising the cap on FDI in the defence sector.

Chairman and Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Cements[]

Gupta was CMD, Tamil Nadu Cements from June 2005 to April 2007. It is under his leadership that the PSU clocked net profit in 2006-07 after nine years of continuous losses.  

Joint Secretary, Department of Health[]

As Joint Secretary, Department of Health, Gupta handled key matters relating to International Cooperation, World Bank and WHO projects. He was instrumental in setting up Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Delhi.

Chairperson, Competition Commission of India (CCI)[]

On 12 November 2018, Gupta was appointed Chair of the Competition Commission of India (CCI).[3] Under Gupta’s leadership, CCI stepped up its enforcement and advocacy actions in digital markets.[4] Enforcement was complemented with stakeholder engagement through market studies and workshops.[5] A market study on e-commerce conducted by CCI during Gupta’s tenure listed out self-regulatory measures for e-commerce marketplaces for improved transparency and competition on the merits.[6][7][8] A telecom sector market study conducted in 2020 brought out data privacy as a factor of non-price competition.[9][10]

As CCI Chair, Gupta steered the fair-play regulator’s response to the disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from shifting all regulatory procedures online for seamless functioning of antitrust enforcement and combination review regimes, an advisory was issued spelling out the framework that would inform CCI’s decisions in the pandemic circumstances. This was to facilitate decision-making by businesses to meet the emergent demands arising out of the crisis without unduly worrying about regulatory trysts.[11][12]

To make M&A filings approval faster, CCI under the leadership of Gupta, introduced an automatic system of approval for combinations under ‘Green Channel’ on 15 August 2019. Under this process, a combination is deemed to have been approved upon filing the notice in the prescribed format. The system is aimed to sustain and promote a speedy, transparent and accountable review of combination cases, strike a balance between facilitation and enforcement functions, create a culture of compliance and support economic growth.[13][14]

In Gupta’s tenure, a new confidentiality regime was put in place for privileged information relating to companies and their business operations.[15] To enable easy accessibility to stakeholders, the regional presence of CCI was augmented in Gupta’s tenure. The first regional office of CCI in Chennai was operationalised on February 26, 2021.[16]

Chairperson, National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA)[]

Gupta is holding additional charge of Chairperson, National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) with effect from 1 October 2021.[17]

Hony. Chairman, Forum of Indian Regulators (FOIR)[]

Gupta is the current Hony. Chairman of the Forum of Indian Regulators (FOIR).[18]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "The Commission".
  2. ^ "Ashok Kumar Gupta Takes Over as The New Secretary (Defence Production)". Business Standard India.
  3. ^ "Ashok Kumar Gupta appointed as the chairman of Competition Commission of India". The Economic Times.
  4. ^ "Unchecked dominance in digital markets a concern, says CCI chief". The Economic Times.
  5. ^ "Market Studies May Trigger Enforcement Action, Says Competition Commission of India Chairman". BloombergQuint.
  6. ^ "Market Study on E-Commerce in India: Key Findings and Observations" (PDF). Competition Commission of India.
  7. ^ "Fair Play, Volume 33" (PDF). Competition Commission of India.
  8. ^ "Ecommerce companies to face action for any unfair practice: CCI chief". The Economic Times.
  9. ^ "Market Study on the Telecom Sector in India: Key Findings and Observations" (PDF). Competition Commission of India.
  10. ^ "Entities with mkt power should not use people's data in 'exploitative manner': CCI chief on digital mkts - ET Telecom". ET Telecom.
  11. ^ "Regulating competition in times of Covid-19". The Financial Express.
  12. ^ "CCI adopting multi-pronged approach; competition law flexible to deal with challenges: Ashok Kumar Gupta". The Economic Times.
  13. ^ "Press Release No. 8/2019-20" (PDF). Competition Commission of India.
  14. ^ "View: How the Competition Commission of India can play a crucial role in India's post-Covid economic recovery". The Economic Times.
  15. ^ "Confidentiality regime to be introduced within a month: CCI Chairman". Business Today.
  16. ^ ANI. "Sitharaman inaugurates Competition Commission of India's regional office in Chennai". BW Businessworld.
  17. ^ "Office Order" (PDF). National Financial Reporting Authority. 31 December 2021.
  18. ^ "Forum of Indian Regulators - Profile". foir-india.org.
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