New Delhi: Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has appointed eminent technocrat Dr. RS Sharma as the non-executive chairperson of ONDC. According to ONDC, this appointment will improve the functioning of the company, as Dr. Sharma has a wealth of academic and professional experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, Mathematics and Statistics from Allahabad University; MSc in Mathematics from IIT Kanpur; MS in Computer Science from University of California, Riverside; LLB from CCS University; and a Doctorate in Management and Public Policy from IIT Delhi.

During his remarkable career in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Dr. Sharma led several transformational digital initiatives. This includes his roles as Director General and Mission Director of UIDAI, Chairman of TRAI and CEO of National Health Authority. He has also served as Chief Secretary of the Government of Jharkhand. His contributions extend to ONDC, where he has been a distinguished member of the ONDC Advisory Council and the ONDC Technology and Strategy Review Council. He has played a key role in shaping the strategic direction of the network.

Dr. Sharma is considered an expert in the development and implementation of digital public infrastructure projects. He is recognized as a leading expert globally in this field. He played an important role in laying the foundation of Aadhaar, which has been important in India's digital revolution. During his tenure as Chairman of TRAI and later as CEO of National Health Authority, many important works were done under the visionary leadership of Dr. Sharma. He used technology to combat challenges spread on a large scale, especially during the Covid pandemic.

At NHA, Dr. Sharma led the implementation of Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and initiated and scaled up the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). He led the design and implementation of CoWIN, the digital backbone of the COVID-19 vaccination program in India. His association with ONDC has been integral since its inception. Dr. Sharma closely advised the early working groups, guiding ONDC’s transformation from a small pilot project to a national mission.