In a significant move to deepen economic and trade ties between the United States and India, the US–India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) recently announced the appointment of Rohit Kumar Singh as the Chair of the Global Value Chains Committee and Advisor to the Board of Directors.
A retired 1989-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, Singh is widely celebrated for his role in modernizing India’s consumer landscape and driving large-scale digital transformation in public service.
Strategic Mandate at USISPF
In his dual capacity, Singh will serve as a bridge between global industry leaders and government stakeholders. His primary focus areas include:
Resilient Supply Chains: Promoting smooth and diversified value chains to reduce global trade bottlenecks.
Regulatory Alignment: Advocating for harmonized trade standards to facilitate easier cross-border commerce.
Infrastructure & Investment: Working on infrastructure readiness to integrate India deeper into global manufacturing networks.
Public-Private Collaboration: Leveraging his experience with PPP (Public-Private Partnership) models to foster industrial innovation.
A Career Defined by Digital Governance
Before joining USISPF in February 2026, Rohit Kumar Singh left a lasting legacy in the Indian bureaucracy:
Consumer Affairs Pioneer: As Union Secretary of Consumer Affairs, he launched India’s first AI-enabled grievance redressal system. Under his watch, consumer courts were digitized, achieving a 2023 milestone where case resolutions outpaced new filings.
COVID-19 Management: As Additional Chief Secretary in Rajasthan, he famously developed the “Bhilwara Model” of ruthless containment, which was lauded as a blueprint for managing pandemic hotspots.
Infrastructure Innovation: At the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), he revived highway development through the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) and the Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT) model, attracting billions in FDI.
Academic Credentials
His expertise is grounded in an elite educational background that blends engineering and policy:
B.Tech in Electrical Engineering: IIT (BHU), Varanasi.
M.S. in Computer Engineering: Clarkson University, New York.
Master in Public Administration (MPA): Harvard University (Lucius N. Littaeur Fellow).
Leadership Commentary
“The next generation of global value chains will be digital, data-enabled, and trust-anchored. I look forward to fostering innovation and regulatory cooperation that enhance competitiveness and deliver tangible economic outcomes.” — Rohit Kumar Singh
