Made in Humane Club
Dr. Archana Goyal Gulati
International Regulatory & Public Policy Expert, Strategic Adviser, Indian Civil Services Officer (1989, Retired.), Professor of Practice, Mentor
Biography
A 1989-batch Indian Civil Services Officer who took Voluntary Retirement in 2021 after a distinguished career in public service spanning over three decades, Dr. Archana G. Gulati is a Public Policy, Telecom, Digital Regulation, and Competition Policy & Law Expert. She has worked as Senior Adviser on Competition Law with Trilegal and Head of Public Policy at Google, India. Dr. Archana G. Gulati has been an expert/resource person for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) since 2010. She teaches Digital and Competition Policy & Law at leading Law Universities and Public Policy Institutes and provides strategic advice to law firms, think tanks etc.
Her educational qualifications include a BA Honours ( Economics) from Lady Sri Ram College, Delhi University, an LLM (Telecom & IT law) from the University of Strathclyde, UK, and a PhD. from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. She is Certified in Higher Education (Harvard University) and Governance of AI, Privacy & Data Protection (London School of Economics & Political Science).
Dr Gulati believes in regulation and business practices that foster citizen/consumer trust. She has put this philosophy into practice in her various posts in the Indian Government. Most recently, these included:
- Advisor (Digital Communications) at the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI Aayog).
- Senior Deputy Director-General in the Department of Telecommunications & Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chairperson of the Telecom Commission of India.
- Advisor and Head Combinations (M&A) Division at the Competition Commission of India
- Financial Advisor to the Vice Chairperson of India’s National Disaster Management Authority
- Administrator (Finance) of the Universal Service Fund of India.
- Co-rapporteur of the ITU-Development sector’s Study Group 1, Q6/1 (2018-21) dealing with Consumer Protection in the Digital Age.
- Vice-Chair (Asia Pacific region) of the ITU Working Group on Finance and Human Resources.
Education
- Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India, PhD, 2020
- Indian Institute of Public Administration, India, M.Phil., 2017
- University of Strathclyde, UK, LL.M., (Telecom & IT), 2011
- ICFAI University, India, B.G.L., 2007
- Indira Gandhi National Open University, India, MBA, 2004
- Madras University, India, M.Sc., Defence & Strategic Studies, 2001
- Lady Sri Ram College, Delhi University, India, B.A. Hons., (Economics), 1988
Certifications
- London School of Economics & Political Science, UK, Ethics of AI certification, 2023
- London School of Economics & Political Science, UK, Data: Law, Policy & Regulation, 2023
- Harvard University, USA, Harvard BOK Higher Education Teaching, 2023
- Alliance Franchise, Delhi, French, Intermediate Level, 2020
Experience
Indian School of Public POLICY & National Law University, Delhi
November 2022 onwards
Professor of Practice/Guest Faculty
Teaches postgraduate courses/subjects on Consumer-Centric Technology Policy, including consumer protection, competition policy, privacy and data protection, platform economics and regulation, content regulation, universal service, regulation of AI, platform economics and competition, and the intersection of policy issues and providing mentorship on capstone projects. Has taught international regulators and students.
May 2022-October 2022
Director &Head Government Affairs & Public Policy, India
Headed the Public Policy function and advised Google on all policy matters in India, including competition, content regulation, privacy & data governance, cybersecurity, consumer protection, telecoms, and product-specific policies (Maps, Play Store, Search, News etc.)
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- Deposed for Google before the Indian Parliamentary Committee in a hearing on ‘Anti-Competitive Practices of Big Tech companies.’
- Worked with colleagues across functions and global regions; interacted successfully with Government, parliamentarians, diplomats, civil society, and industry associations.
- Initiated and cemented strategic partnerships for digital transformation with the Central and State Government Ministries.
Trilegal
October 2021-May 2022
Senior Policy Advisor, Competition Law
Advised the Competition Law Practice on anti-trust and merger review matters.
NITI Aayog, Government of India, New Delhi, India
August 2019-March 2021
Adviser (Digital Communications)
Advised the Vice Chairman & the CEO of NITI Aayog (the Government’s national policy think tank) on digital communications, digital economy, universal service, digital policy & regulatory matters & carried out international stakeholder interface.
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- Undertook vital policy initiatives and projects relating to digital transformation and the digital economy to promote vibrant, fair, and competitive markets.
- Advised on Universal Service Policy & Programmes.
- Conducted detailed analysis and stakeholder consultation and drafted recommended Guidelines for Right of Way in Telecom based on international best practices and the review of legislation across the state governments.
- Conducted extensive stakeholder consultation and drafted a new Satellite Communications policy for the Department of Telecommunications to revitalise the Indian Satcom market and liberalise the existing regime. Its objectives included promoting the launch of Indian satellites, optimising spectrum availability and encouraging open skies while promoting the domestic Satcom sector and startups.
- Initiated & led a joint India-EU project on Advanced Digital Communications and report that analysed and compared the two jurisdiction’s regulatory frameworks for adopting advanced digital technologies. This report made recommendations for improvements in licensing regulation, spectrum, infrastructure management, supply chain security, green technologies, competition, cybersecurity, and data regulation and for boosting Indian contribution to international standard-setting. It also identified areas of Indo-EU collaboration.
- Participated in Niti Aayog’s management of the Covid 19 Pandemic and worked on unique e-government initiatives in partnership with industry and government stakeholders, such as creating a user-friendly employment portal for migrant labour.
- Worked with academia and civil society organisations to develop a web-based Tool Kit to access Best Practices on Digital Regulation, cutting across 14 aspects of digital regulation, including Privacy, Digital Identity, Digital Payments, Consumer Trust, Consumer Redress, and Collaborative Regulation.
- Responsible for organising multi-stakeholder policy discussions to spur investment in Core ICT, including chip design in India.
- International relations
Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, New Delhi, India
May 2017-August 2019
Senior Deputy Director General/OSD to Secretary Telecom
Assisted Secretary (Telecom) in every facet of her role as Chairperson of the Digital Communications Commission, the apex policy-making body for Digital Communications in India.
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- International, and national stakeholder interface: Governments, industry and CSOs, to understand viewpoints and translate these into policy inputs and advice.
- Advised Secretary on Telecom Regulator’s recommendations to the Government on Universal Service, Broadband, Licensing, Right of Way, Spectrum, etc.
- Worked with the Secretary to draft a policy for better spectrum management in India.
- Assisted Secretary Telecom in her role in the Justice Sri Krishna drafting committee for India’s privacy and data protection law.
- Assisted Secretary Telecom in eliciting & collating stakeholder views leading to the notification of India’s Digital Communications Policy 2019.
Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, India
June 2016 – April 2017
M.Phil. Dissertation on ‘Analysis of Regulatory Framework for Merger Review in India & Recommendations for Improvement.‘
Competition Commission of India, New Delhi, India
July 2014 – April 2016
Adviser (Combinations)
Headed the Combinations (M&A) Division and advised the Commission on 300 plus merger review cases. Improvements in Merger Regulations, International Interface, Co-Chair ICN MWG.
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- Led CCI’s first Phase II (detailed) Merger inquiry leading to structural remedies.
- Notified significant and widely appreciated improvements in Merger Regulations based on internal review and stakeholder consultation.
- Inducted Ease of Doing Business by simplifying Forms for filing cases with the Commission, developing Notes to Forms and developing other Guidances such as on ‘Control’ and ‘Non-Compete Clauses.’
- Co-Chaired the International Competition Network’s Merger Working Group along with the DG Competition, EU, and the Canadian Competition Board.
- Contributed to substantive aspects of the organisation of the International Communications Network’s Merger Working Group Workshop (ICN MWG) organised by CCI in New Delhi in December 2014.
National Disaster Management Authority, New Delhi, India
February 2012 – July 2014
Financial Adviser
Rendered Finance Advice to the Vice Chairperson on various aspects of NDMA’s role and responsibilities as laid down in the National Disaster Management Act, 2005.
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- Co-authored a paper on Disaster Insurance in coordination with the Insurance Regulator of India (IRDA) and authored the Financial Planning and Management chapter for India’s National Disaster Management Plan.
- Prepared NDMA’s submission to the XIVth Finance Commission, which included several path-breaking suggestions on disaster relief and mitigation.
- Wrote NDMA’s proposal for creating a National Disaster Mitigation Fund to provide funding for proactive mitigation measures instead of the current post-disaster relief-centric approach.
Universal Service Obligation of India, New Delhi, India
May 2007-January 2012
Joint Administrator/Head (Finance)
Headed Finance function and rendered finance advice on Universal Service policy, regulation, and programme implementation.
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- Conceived, developed, and implemented the first USOF website and subsidy monitoring software to facilitate greater accountability and Ease of Doing Business.
- Designed the current logo of the Indian Universal Service Obligation Fund of India.
- Contributed to developing and implementing USOF Schemes for Optic Fibre, Mobile and Broadband infrastructure across rural India.
- Spearheaded Sanchar Shakti, a successful set of pilot projects for mobile value-added services for rural women that were launched on International Women’s Day in 2011 by the President of India and involved working with multiple stakeholders, including CSOs & UN Women.
- Supervised subsidy disbursement and monitoring of scheme implementation across 22 field offices in India.
- Responsible for USOF budget, accounts, and audit functions.
- Received appreciation from the Public Accounts Committee (parliament) for carrying out substantive reforms in subsidy disbursement and monitoring.
UN: International Telecommunications Union, Geneva, Switzerland
2018-2021
Co-Rapporteur for Question on Consumer Information, Protection & Rights
- Co-chaired the Study Group and co-drafted the ITU Development Sector’s study report on Consumer Protection in the Digital Age, including the issues of emerging technologies, competition, and data protection.
- Vice Chair of ITU Council’s Working Group on Finance and Human Resources. 2019-2021.
- Served as ITU expert on an ITU Mission on Human Capacity Building for Digital Inclusion (Universal Service Policy and Programme on Access to ICTs for PwDs to the Government of Nepal and Afghanistan) in 2012-13.
- Resource person to ITU since 2010 and at present.
International Experience
INDO-European Union Cooperation (ICT)
2019-2021
- Initiated & led a joint India-EU project on Advanced Digital Communications and report that analysed and compared the two jurisdiction’s regulatory frameworks for adopting advanced digital technologies. This report made recommendations for improvements in licensing regulation, spectrum, infrastructure management, supply chain security, green technologies, competition, cybersecurity, and data regulation and for boosting Indian contribution to international standard-setting. It also identified areas of Indo-EU collaboration.
International Telecommunications Union, Geneva, Switzerland
Since 2010
- Served as ITU resource person and presented a paper at an ITU conference on ICTs for All in Singapore in 2010
- Served as ITU resource person and presented a paper at the ITU-Federal Communication Commission’s M-Enabling Summit in Washington in 2011
UN Women
2010-2012
- Worked with UN Women to spearhead Sanchar Shakti, a very successful pilot project for mobile value-added services for rural women launched on the occasion of International Women’s Day in 2011 by the President of India
UNESCAP
2013-14
- Served as an expert on Disaster Risk Reduction and Financing on a UNESCAP panel on Strategies towards Building Resilience to Disaster in the Asia Pacific held in Bangkok in 2013 and participated as part of the Indian delegation to UNESCAP in the third session of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction
International Competition Network
2014-16
- Co-chaired the International Competition Network’s Merger Working Group (MWG) along with Canadian Competition Bureau and Director General Competition, European Commission and hosted the ICN MWG workshop in New Delhi in 2014.
- Resource person for ICN Conferences
Ongoing Initiatives
- Value of Competition, Ambassador, Centre for Competition Law & Policy, Oxford University
- RIFEN, Head of India Chapter