Government of India Appoints Advocate CA Harsh Patel to Telecom Advisory Committee

Advocate CA Harsh Girish Patel, Founder and Global CEO of Water & Shark and Vice Chair – Legal and Regulatory at the Europe India Centre for Business and Industry (EICBI), has been nominated by the Ministry of Communications as a Member of the Telecom Advisory Committee (TAC). The committee advises the government on telecom policy, regulation and sector priorities, and Patel will now be part of discussions shaping India’s communications landscape.

Central government nomination

Patel’s nomination was reported on 19 May 2026 through the Ministry’s communication. The Telecom Advisory Committee functions as an advisory body under the Ministry of Communications and offers inputs on policy, consumer issues and service quality. In public remarks, Patel described the appointment as a matter of honour and said he would bring his experience in legal and regulatory matters to the role.

Harsh Patel’s Telecom Advisory Committee role reflects his legal, financial and global advisory experience, with a focus on India’s digital future.

Professional background

Patel is a practising Advocate and Chartered Accountant who founded Water & Shark at the age of 19. The firm works across multiple jurisdictions and advises royal families, sovereign offices, unicorns and global enterprises on cross-border structuring, taxation, family office advisory and legal strategy. His profile combines legal, financial and international business experience, which gives his appointment a wider regulatory relevance.

Digital policy context

Patel has also said that India is at a pivotal point in its digital journey, from the rollout of 5G to work at the frontier of 6G research. He linked this progress with Digital India and India’s growing position as a global destination for technology investment. That perspective fits the scope of the Telecom Advisory Committee, which plays a role in shaping policy around telecom services and sector priorities.

India–Europe angle

Through his role at EICBI, Patel is connected to efforts that strengthen business and policy links between India and Europe. His experience with cross-border clients and international regulatory systems adds a global dimension to his new committee role, at a time when telecom, digital policy and connectivity continue to matter for India’s economic engagement with Europe and other major markets.