Who was serving as the Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) around 2018–2019?

Introduction / Context:
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is the key regulator for the telecom and broadcasting sectors in India. Its chairman plays a central role in setting policies on issues such as tariffs, spectrum, net neutrality, and consumer protection. Questions in exams often ask about the names of important regulators, especially for periods close to the exam year. Here, the focus is on who held the TRAI chairmanship around 2018–2019.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The organisation is TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India).
• The time frame is around 2018–2019.
• Options include Ram Sewak Sharma, P. D. Vaghela, Manmohan Singh, and Raghuram Rajan.
• Only one person correctly matches the post and period mentioned.

Concept / Approach:
This is an institutional awareness question. Ram Sewak Sharma, an Indian Administrative Service officer, was appointed as TRAI Chairman in 2015 and his tenure was extended up to 2020. Therefore, during 2018–2019 he was the serving chairman. P. D. Vaghela took over later, while Manmohan Singh and Raghuram Rajan are associated with other high offices but not with TRAI. The approach is to recall the correct link between TRAI and Ram Sewak Sharma.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the question is about the position of TRAI Chairman, not about the head of the government or the central bank. Step 2: Recall that Ram Sewak Sharma became Chairman of TRAI in 2015 and continued in that role through 2018–2019. Step 3: Check the options and see that his name appears as Option A. Step 4: Recognise that P. D. Vaghela assumed the role later and that Manmohan Singh and Raghuram Rajan held different posts (Prime Minister and RBI Governor respectively). Step 5: Select Ram Sewak Sharma as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, recall that major decisions on net neutrality and telecom tariffs around 2016–2019 were frequently reported with Ram Sewak Sharma quoted as the TRAI Chairman. By contrast, Manmohan Singh is known as a former Prime Minister and economist, and Raghuram Rajan is known as a former Reserve Bank of India Governor. P. D. Vaghela was appointed as TRAI Chairman at a later date. This role based memory confirms Option A.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
P. D. Vaghela: He did become TRAI Chairman, but after 2019. Therefore, he does not match the specified time frame of 2018–2019 in the question.
Manmohan Singh: A former Prime Minister and noted economist, but never the chairman of TRAI, so this option is incorrect.
Raghuram Rajan: Served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, not as TRAI Chairman, making this choice wrong.

Common Pitfalls:
One pitfall is confusing high profile personalities and assigning them to multiple roles they did not actually hold. Another is ignoring the time frame and picking a name associated with TRAI from a different period. To avoid such mistakes, pay attention to dates and maintain separate mental lists of key office holders in different regulatory bodies such as TRAI, RBI, SEBI, and others.

Final Answer:
Ram Sewak Sharma