Sam Pitroda resigns as information adviser to Prime Minister

New Delhi: Sam Pitroda, Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations adviser to the Prime Minister, is believed to have tendered his resignation. [caption id=“attachment_1557357” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Sam Pitroda. AFP[/caption] Pitroda’s resignation comes almost a fortnight after former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stepped down on May 17 following the defeat of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance in the general elections for the 16th Lok Sabha. According to sources, Pitroda, who is presently in Mexico, has sent his resignation by e-mail to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. An e-mail sent to Pitroda seeking confirmation about his resignation remained unanswered. Pitroda was also Chairman of the National Innovation Council (NInC) that was set up to encourage innovation. Telecom expert Pitroda has spent four decades in the field of telecommunications to help bridge the global communication divide. He was also adviser to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi during the 1980s and had played a role in the development of telecommunications and information technology infrastructure. Besides, Pitroda headed the National Knowledge Commission, a high-level advisory body that was formed to transform India into a knowledge society. PTI