Ex-industry secretary Ajay Shankar appointed as member secretary in NMCC

The Power Couple Shankars with Hillary Clinton

Ajay Shankar, a 1973 batch Uttar Pradesh cadre retired IAS, has been appointed as Member Secretary in National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) on a contract basis for three years. Mr Shankar, who is the husband of former Indian ambassador to US Meera Shankar, was in Washington DC for over one and half years after he had retired as industry secretary in December 31, 2009. He has been a non-executive independent director of Tata Global Beverages Limited since April 30, 2010. According to the company’s disclosure, Mr Shankar’s total calculated compensation in Tata Global Beverages is $90,000, or roughly Rs 45 lakh.

While appointing Mr Shankar for the post of NMCC’s Member Secretary, the Prime Minister-headed Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) decided to terminate the appointment of 1967 batch retired IAS V Govindarajan as Member Secretary of the Council.

Significantly, a former industry secretary V Krishnamurthy who is still known for his stint as chairman and CEO of Maruti Udyog between 1981 and 1990, is the chairman of the Council.

An MA in political science from Allahabad University and MA in economics from Georgetown University, Washington DC, Shankar had earlier served as principal adviser in the Planning Commission, additional secretary in the ministry of power, CEO of Greater NOIDA Industrial Development Authority and secretary to the Lt Governor of Delhi.

Also Read

Ajay Shankar's famous handshake with Prime Minister

Action and Appointments  

a) Home secretary RK Singh will meet his Bangladesh counterpart Monzur Hussain on Friday to sort out security and border management-related issues between the two countries. The agenda of the meeting also include police to police co-operation in capacity building and training.