Mr. V. P. RAJA - Pcgt

V. P. Raja, after obtaining two post graduate degrees in Physics from Delhi University and Columbia University (U.S.A) respectively, joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1974. While in service, he completed a M.A. in Rural Development Planning from the University of East Anglia (U.K). He further obtained an M.Phil. degree in Social Sciences from the Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi. As an IAS officer of the Maharashtra Cadre, he has worked in various assignments at the District, State and Centre. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to administrative reforms, while working as Collector of Satara and as Transport Commissioner Maharashtra, Mr. Raja was awarded the Distinguished Government Administration Award. With the Government of India, he worked at the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the Planning Commission, the Ministry of Defence and at the Department of Atomic Energy. He retired as Principal Advisor to the Department of Atomic Energy in September 2008. Thereafter he was Chairman of the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) for a period of five years till he attained the age of 65. Concurrently he was also Chairman of the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forests of the Government of India for appraising of new projects for coal Mining and Thermal Power Projects from the point of view of their Environmental Impacts. Mr. Raja continues to be actively involved in various issues of the Energy Sector. He has a passion for teaching, coaching and mentoring young students. He is a visiting faculty both at the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, University of Mumbai and at the B.S.E Institute of the Bombay Stock Exchange, teaching courses centred on Statistics, Business Research & Quantitative Methods and Economics.