N. Vittal
Encyclopedia
N. Vittal belonging to the Indian Administrative Service
1960 batch, is one of the eminent public servants of India
, who has held important positions in the Government of India
, most prominent of which was that of the Central Vigilance Commissioner.
, he was born in Thiruvananthapuram
, the capital of the Indian state
of Kerala
, and was educated in Tiruchirapalli
and Chennai
(then called Madras). He joined the Indian Administrative Service on 16 May, 1960.
His experience of more than 35 years covers a wide spectrum with focus on industrial administration, science and technology and security. As Secretary to the Government of India, he initiated policies for boosting software, setting up software technology parks and strategic alliance with the industry.
Also he was successful in introducing the electronics hardware technology Park scheme, whereby, mini Hongkongs and mini Singapores could be created in India to boost manufacture of electronic hardware. He made the Department of Electronics a frontrunner in adjusting to the new industry-friendly policy, encouraging foreign direct investment from IBM, Motorola etc. As Chairman, Telecom Commission he initiated the process of liberalization in the telecom sector and played a major role in getting the National Telecom Policy 1994 approved and announced.
His published works include - India Incorporated: Reflections on the Indian Electronics Industry (1994), The Vicious Cycle of Vittal's Law,(1994) The Red Tape Guerrilla(1995), Fighting Corruption and Restructuring Government (2000), and Information Technology: India's Tomorrow. He has edited Export Processing Zones in Asia -Some Dimensions published by Asian Productivity Organization (1977).He is a regular columnist for The Economic Times
and the Web magazine Rediff on the Net. He is included in the list of "Fifty men and women who shaped the economy" in the fifty years after India's independence by the Business Today. He is the Honorary Fellow of the IETE.
BIO DATA OF N VITTAL
Shri N Vittal was born on 31 January 1938 in Thirvananthapuram. He had his early education in Tiruchirapalli and Madras. Graduated with B.Sc. (Hons.) in Chemistry degree from Loyola College, Madras – 1958. After a short time as Lecturer in Jamal Mohammed College, Tiruchirapalli, he joined the I.A.S on 16 May, 1960 and was allotted to the Gujarat Cadre. In his career of more than 35 years, Shri Vittal has held a number of assignments at the State Government, Central Government as well as in a joint sector enterprise. Some of the major posts held by him are:-
• Development Commissioner, Kandla Free Trade Zone, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India
• Industries Commissioner, Government of Gujarat
• Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, Government of Gujarat
• Chairman, Gujarat State Civil Supplies Corporation, Government of Gujarat
• Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Government of Gujarat
• Managing Director, Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertiliser Company Limited
• Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Government of Gujarat
• Additional Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India
• Secretary, Department of Electronics, Government of India
• Chairman, Telecom Commission and Secretary, Department of Telecommunication, Government of India
• Chairman, Public Enterprises Selection Board
• Central Vigilance Commissioner [current]
He attended the 89 Fall Senior Executives Programme in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States,
His experience covers a wide spectrum with the focus on industrial administration as well as administration of the departments connected with science and technology and security. The major achievements during his career are:-
• Revival of the Kandla Free Trade Zone
• Opening of the Dahej Port in Gujarat
• Emergence of the Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertiliser Company (GNFC) not only as an efficient business enterprise but also as a model for what a public sector unit can do for backward area development especially in education, health, culture and environment, management. GNFC was a zero pollution plant.
• Setting up the Narmada College of Science and Technology and Commerce, Bharuch, the first English medium college in South Gujarat, teaching electronics, computer science and chemistry.
• Setting up of new organisations e.g., as Industries Commissioner in Gujarat, responsible for Gujarat becoming the first state in the country to be fully covered with District Industries Centre; Setting up of the single window service for industry promotion bureau (IndexTB) which was adopted later by other states; Setting up of Entrepreneurship Development Centre; As Secretary (Civil Supplies), set up Gujarat State Civil Supplies Corporation; As Additional Chief Secretary (Home), initiated proposal for setting up the Gujarat Police Housing Corporation.
• As Secretary to the Government of India, initiated policies for boosting software and set up software technology parks and forged a strategic alliance with the industry. Also was successful in introducing the Electronics Hardware Technology Park scheme, whereby, mini `Hongkongs’ and mini `Singapores’ can be created in India to boost manufacture of electronic hardware. Made Department of Electronics a front runner in adjusting to the new industry friendly policy, encouraging foreign direct investment from IBM, Motorola etc.
• As Chairman, Telecom Commission initiated the process of liberalisation in the telecom sector and played a major role in getting the National Telecom Policy 1994 approved and announced.
• As Chairman, Public Enterprises Selection Board initiated measures for greater transparency and speed in the functioning of the PESB. Headed the committee on guidelines which resulted in the cancellation of 696 obsolete guidelines hampering the autonomy of the PSEs.
In addition, Chairman of Committees / expert groups / task forces: -
• Chairman, Committee on Guidelines for the Public Sector (1997), Ministry of Industry, Department of Public Enterprises, Government of India
• Chairman, Expert Group on IT in Government, Department of Personnel, Government of India
• Chairman, Task Force on Technology Exports, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India
• Chairman, Task Force on Telecom and Information Technology, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
• Chairman, Expert Committee on Tamil Nadu Institute of Information Technology, Government of Tamil Nadu.
Widely travelled, he is also interested in application of management principles in organisation in the public and private sector. He has written more than 400 articles on various subjects relating to management, public relations, human resources development, management of technology, public sector management etc. in many journals and magazines. These include Economic and Political Weekly, Economic Times, Financial Express, times of India, Business India, Journals of IIMA, LBS National Academy of Administration, HCPS, RIPA, IIFT etc.
He has authored Five books – [a] India Incorporated: Reflections on the Indian Electronics Industry (1994); [b] The Vicious Cycle of Vittal’s Law (1994); and, [c] The Red Tape Guerrilla (1995); [d] Fighting Corruption and Restructuring Government (2000); and [e] Information Technology: India's Tomorrow. Also edited Export Processing Zones in Asia – Some Dimensions published by Asian Productivity Organisation (1977). He is a regular columnist for the Economic Times and the Web magazine "Rediff on the Net." (www.rediffindia.com)
He is actively interested in management and cultural activities and has membership in the following social / cultural / professional associations: -
• President (1994-1997) Loyola Alumni Association (North India Chapter), New Delhi
• President (1991-1997) Shri Shanmukhananda Sangeetha Sabha, New Delhi
• Member (1991-1998) Board of Governors, Academy of Human Resource Development, Ahmedabad
Among the honours received are:
• Honorary Fellow, Computer Society of India (1992)
• Citation of gratitude from Electronic Component Industry Association (ELCINA), New Delhi
• Dataquest IT Man of the Year 1993
• Honorary Fellow, Asia Electronics Union (1995)
• Honorary Fellow, Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (1997)
• The hidden talent of India award by the Organisation for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) International , a UN Status Category I NGO
• The Great Son of the Soil Award 1998 by All India Conference of Intellectuals
• For the Sake of Honour, Rotary's highest Award (April 1999)
• Honorary Member, Indian Institute of Industrial Engineering (December 1999)
• Honour of "Desa Seva Ratnam", conferred by Jagadguru Sri Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam (April 2001)
• H H Sri Paramacharya Man of the Year Award (2000), awarded by the Centenarian Trust, Chennai. (April 2001)
• V Krishnamurthy Award For Excellence (June 2001) - by the Centre for Organisation Development, Hyderabad
• Giants International Award for public administration (September 2001)
• Tamil Nadu Governor Late Dr M Chenna Reddy Award (March 2002) for outstanding service by Federation of Doctors, Hospitals & Health Care Industry (FEDDHI)
Included in the list of "Fifty men and women who shaped the economy" in the fifty years after India’s independence by the Business Today magazine (August 1997)
Married, he has a son and a daughter. Interested in reading, writing, classical South Indian music and long walks.
. The books written by him include:
Indian Administrative Service
The Indian Administrative Service is the administrative civil service of the Government of India. It is one of the three All India Services....
1960 batch, is one of the eminent public servants of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, who has held important positions in the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
, most prominent of which was that of the Central Vigilance Commissioner.
Early life
A Tanjore MaharashtrianTanjore Maharashtrian
Thanjavur Marathi , are a Marathi-speaking ethno-linguistic group, who reside in the central and northern parts of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. They are the descendants of Marathi administrators, soldiers and noblemen who migrated during the rule of the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom...
, he was born in Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
, the capital of the Indian state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, and was educated in Tiruchirapalli
Tiruchirapalli
Tiruchirappalli ) , also called Tiruchi or Trichy , is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli District. It is the fourth largest municipal corporation in Tamil Nadu and also the fourth largest urban agglomeration in the state...
and Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
(then called Madras). He joined the Indian Administrative Service on 16 May, 1960.
Profile
Shri N Vittal is from the Indian Adminstrative Services cadre 1960 batch. He has held the appointments of Chairman, Telecom Commission and Secretary, Department of Telecommunication, Government of India, Chairman, Public Enterprises Selection Board and before retirement his last appointment was Central Vigilance Commissioner.His experience of more than 35 years covers a wide spectrum with focus on industrial administration, science and technology and security. As Secretary to the Government of India, he initiated policies for boosting software, setting up software technology parks and strategic alliance with the industry.
Also he was successful in introducing the electronics hardware technology Park scheme, whereby, mini Hongkongs and mini Singapores could be created in India to boost manufacture of electronic hardware. He made the Department of Electronics a frontrunner in adjusting to the new industry-friendly policy, encouraging foreign direct investment from IBM, Motorola etc. As Chairman, Telecom Commission he initiated the process of liberalization in the telecom sector and played a major role in getting the National Telecom Policy 1994 approved and announced.
His published works include - India Incorporated: Reflections on the Indian Electronics Industry (1994), The Vicious Cycle of Vittal's Law,(1994) The Red Tape Guerrilla(1995), Fighting Corruption and Restructuring Government (2000), and Information Technology: India's Tomorrow. He has edited Export Processing Zones in Asia -Some Dimensions published by Asian Productivity Organization (1977).He is a regular columnist for The Economic Times
The Economic Times
The Economic Times is an English-language Indian daily newspaper published by the Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.. The Economic Times was started in 1961. It is the most popular and widely read financial daily in India, read by more than 8 lakh people...
and the Web magazine Rediff on the Net. He is included in the list of "Fifty men and women who shaped the economy" in the fifty years after India's independence by the Business Today. He is the Honorary Fellow of the IETE.
BIO DATA OF N VITTAL
Shri N Vittal was born on 31 January 1938 in Thirvananthapuram. He had his early education in Tiruchirapalli and Madras. Graduated with B.Sc. (Hons.) in Chemistry degree from Loyola College, Madras – 1958. After a short time as Lecturer in Jamal Mohammed College, Tiruchirapalli, he joined the I.A.S on 16 May, 1960 and was allotted to the Gujarat Cadre. In his career of more than 35 years, Shri Vittal has held a number of assignments at the State Government, Central Government as well as in a joint sector enterprise. Some of the major posts held by him are:-
• Development Commissioner, Kandla Free Trade Zone, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India
• Industries Commissioner, Government of Gujarat
• Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, Government of Gujarat
• Chairman, Gujarat State Civil Supplies Corporation, Government of Gujarat
• Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Government of Gujarat
• Managing Director, Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertiliser Company Limited
• Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Government of Gujarat
• Additional Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India
• Secretary, Department of Electronics, Government of India
• Chairman, Telecom Commission and Secretary, Department of Telecommunication, Government of India
• Chairman, Public Enterprises Selection Board
• Central Vigilance Commissioner [current]
He attended the 89 Fall Senior Executives Programme in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States,
His experience covers a wide spectrum with the focus on industrial administration as well as administration of the departments connected with science and technology and security. The major achievements during his career are:-
• Revival of the Kandla Free Trade Zone
• Opening of the Dahej Port in Gujarat
• Emergence of the Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertiliser Company (GNFC) not only as an efficient business enterprise but also as a model for what a public sector unit can do for backward area development especially in education, health, culture and environment, management. GNFC was a zero pollution plant.
• Setting up the Narmada College of Science and Technology and Commerce, Bharuch, the first English medium college in South Gujarat, teaching electronics, computer science and chemistry.
• Setting up of new organisations e.g., as Industries Commissioner in Gujarat, responsible for Gujarat becoming the first state in the country to be fully covered with District Industries Centre; Setting up of the single window service for industry promotion bureau (IndexTB) which was adopted later by other states; Setting up of Entrepreneurship Development Centre; As Secretary (Civil Supplies), set up Gujarat State Civil Supplies Corporation; As Additional Chief Secretary (Home), initiated proposal for setting up the Gujarat Police Housing Corporation.
• As Secretary to the Government of India, initiated policies for boosting software and set up software technology parks and forged a strategic alliance with the industry. Also was successful in introducing the Electronics Hardware Technology Park scheme, whereby, mini `Hongkongs’ and mini `Singapores’ can be created in India to boost manufacture of electronic hardware. Made Department of Electronics a front runner in adjusting to the new industry friendly policy, encouraging foreign direct investment from IBM, Motorola etc.
• As Chairman, Telecom Commission initiated the process of liberalisation in the telecom sector and played a major role in getting the National Telecom Policy 1994 approved and announced.
• As Chairman, Public Enterprises Selection Board initiated measures for greater transparency and speed in the functioning of the PESB. Headed the committee on guidelines which resulted in the cancellation of 696 obsolete guidelines hampering the autonomy of the PSEs.
In addition, Chairman of Committees / expert groups / task forces: -
• Chairman, Committee on Guidelines for the Public Sector (1997), Ministry of Industry, Department of Public Enterprises, Government of India
• Chairman, Expert Group on IT in Government, Department of Personnel, Government of India
• Chairman, Task Force on Technology Exports, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India
• Chairman, Task Force on Telecom and Information Technology, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
• Chairman, Expert Committee on Tamil Nadu Institute of Information Technology, Government of Tamil Nadu.
Widely travelled, he is also interested in application of management principles in organisation in the public and private sector. He has written more than 400 articles on various subjects relating to management, public relations, human resources development, management of technology, public sector management etc. in many journals and magazines. These include Economic and Political Weekly, Economic Times, Financial Express, times of India, Business India, Journals of IIMA, LBS National Academy of Administration, HCPS, RIPA, IIFT etc.
He has authored Five books – [a] India Incorporated: Reflections on the Indian Electronics Industry (1994); [b] The Vicious Cycle of Vittal’s Law (1994); and, [c] The Red Tape Guerrilla (1995); [d] Fighting Corruption and Restructuring Government (2000); and [e] Information Technology: India's Tomorrow. Also edited Export Processing Zones in Asia – Some Dimensions published by Asian Productivity Organisation (1977). He is a regular columnist for the Economic Times and the Web magazine "Rediff on the Net." (www.rediffindia.com)
He is actively interested in management and cultural activities and has membership in the following social / cultural / professional associations: -
• President (1994-1997) Loyola Alumni Association (North India Chapter), New Delhi
• President (1991-1997) Shri Shanmukhananda Sangeetha Sabha, New Delhi
• Member (1991-1998) Board of Governors, Academy of Human Resource Development, Ahmedabad
Among the honours received are:
• Honorary Fellow, Computer Society of India (1992)
• Citation of gratitude from Electronic Component Industry Association (ELCINA), New Delhi
• Dataquest IT Man of the Year 1993
• Honorary Fellow, Asia Electronics Union (1995)
• Honorary Fellow, Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (1997)
• The hidden talent of India award by the Organisation for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) International , a UN Status Category I NGO
• The Great Son of the Soil Award 1998 by All India Conference of Intellectuals
• For the Sake of Honour, Rotary's highest Award (April 1999)
• Honorary Member, Indian Institute of Industrial Engineering (December 1999)
• Honour of "Desa Seva Ratnam", conferred by Jagadguru Sri Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam (April 2001)
• H H Sri Paramacharya Man of the Year Award (2000), awarded by the Centenarian Trust, Chennai. (April 2001)
• V Krishnamurthy Award For Excellence (June 2001) - by the Centre for Organisation Development, Hyderabad
• Giants International Award for public administration (September 2001)
• Tamil Nadu Governor Late Dr M Chenna Reddy Award (March 2002) for outstanding service by Federation of Doctors, Hospitals & Health Care Industry (FEDDHI)
Included in the list of "Fifty men and women who shaped the economy" in the fifty years after India’s independence by the Business Today magazine (August 1997)
Married, he has a son and a daughter. Interested in reading, writing, classical South Indian music and long walks.
Publications
He has authored a number of books and articles. He regularly writes for The Economic TimesThe Economic Times
The Economic Times is an English-language Indian daily newspaper published by the Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.. The Economic Times was started in 1961. It is the most popular and widely read financial daily in India, read by more than 8 lakh people...
. The books written by him include:
- India Incorporated: Reflections on the Indian Electronics Industry (1994)
- The Vicious Cycle of Vittal's Law,(1994)
- The Red Tape Guerrilla(1995)
- Fighting Corruption and Restructuring Government (2000)
- Public Sector Management & Governance (2001) – with S. Mahalingam
- Information Technology: India's Tomorrow (2001)
- Ideas for Action (2002)
- Vittal’s Vital Management Mantra (2004)
- Maharastrians in Tamil Nadu (2004)
- Musings on Governance, Governing and Corruption (2004)
- Technology and a Vision for the future (2004)
- More musings on Governance, Governing and Corruption (2005)
- Roots of Effective Governance (2007)
- Corruption in India : The Road block for national prosperity (2002)
- Roots of effective governance (2007)
Further reading
- Saadhanayaalar N. Vittal, a biography of N. Vittal http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/12/stories/2006041207760600.htm