Prof. (Dr.) Shilohu Rao is a distinguished legal scholar and experienced Law and Technology practitioner with a proven innovation and leadership track record. His extensive experience in Government, Industry, and Academia has equipped him with a unique perspective on the intersection of law and technology. Prof. Rao has made significant contributions to the Law & Technology and Governance field, particularly in cybercrime, data protection, and digital governance.

Key Contributions

• GST Infrastructure Support Services: As Senior Vice President of GSTN, Prof. Rao has spearheaded the GST 2.0, Managed Service Provider RFP process. Successfully negotiated the renewal of the existing GST Managed Service Provider contract with M/s. Infosys.
• GST Appellate Tribunal: Managed the GST Appellate Tribunal Programme as Nodal Officer. Prof. Rao facilitated approval for the project proposal from the Government of India. Notably, this project marked the first instance of an Opex model being implemented for IT infrastructure within a judicial services project for the Indian Judicial Segment.
• E-Governance under Digital India: As General Manager, Prof. Rao led the development and implementation of the Digital India Learning Portal (DI-LMS) an e-learning platform that has empowered over 5.5 million users with access to a vast library of 21,000 e-content resources. This initiative was pivotal in formulating and implementing national e-governance policies and regulations. As part of the Digital India celebrations, this program has been recognized as the 11^th best national-level e-governance application.
• Capacity Building for Law Enforcement: As Chief Investigator, Prof. Rao devised a comprehensive Competency Framework for Law Enforcement Officers, specializing in Cyber Law, Cybercrime Investigation, and Digital Forensics, training over 1000 participants with a PG Diploma in Cyber Law, Cyber Crime Investigation and Digital Forensics in association with National Law Institute University, Bhopal (NLIU).
• Data Governance and Data Protection: Prof. Rao Contributed to the development of legal frameworks for multilateral data governance and protection. His research philosophy on Data Constitutionalism bridges the gap between law and technology.
• Startup Mentorship: Prof. Rao mentored the development of the native DIVYA Video Conference Solution, which played a vital role in the Faceless Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal.
• International Engagements: Prof. Rao arranged three Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summits and led the Indian Delegation to the Government of Singapore and Estonia to study the global Digital Government and e-governance initiatives.
• Teaching Experience:  At the Military College of Telecom Engineering, Prof. Rao trained Indian Army signal officers and cadets. He also instructed defence personnel from South Asia and Africa on Telecom and IT technologies.
• Global Recognition and Awards:

• Digital Transformation for Strategic Leader by Harvard Business, USA.
• Brandon Hall USA Awards for Excellence in Learning & Development.
• Trusted Partner Award from the GSTN/Government of India.
• Top 50 Impactful Knowledge Management Professionals from the World Educational Congress.

Publications

•                Rao, Shilohu N. J. P “Digital India: Transforming Capacity Building in Government.” International Journal of Transparency and Accountability in Governance, vol. 6, no. 1, 2020 National Law University, Delhi (UGC CARE List Journal).

•                Rao, Shilohu N. J. P “Online Capacity Building on Cyber Law, Cybercrimes Investigation and Digital Forensics under the Digital India Program.” GFCE Global Cyber Expertise Magazine, vol. 7, April 2020.

•                Rao, Shilohu N. J. P “Introduction to Blockchain-Powered Governance.” Indian Law Review, National Law Institute University, Bhopal (NLIU) vol. 9-12, 2017-2020.

•                Rao, Shilohu N. J. P “Learning Management System: Development and Implementation.” International Journal of Library Information Network and Knowledge, vol. 3, no. 2, 2018.

•                Rao, Shilohu N. J. P. “Knowledge Management System for Governance: Transformational Approach Creating Knowledge as Product for Governance.” In Crowdsourcing and Knowledge Management in Contemporary Business Environments, edited by Regina Lenart-Gansiniec, Jagiellonian University, Poland, 2019.

•                Rao, Shilohu N. J. P “Learning Management System Under Digital India Program: Blended Learning Platform for Digital Governance” for Sustainable Educational Development, edited by Dr. Purnendu Tripathi, Siran Mukerji, Arab Open University, Saudi Arabia,2018.

Area of Interest

• Technology Law and e-Governance
• Data Governance and Privacy
• Cyber Law and Cybercrime
• AI Regulations and Ethics
• Blockchain Technology and Smart Contracts.