R P Thakur is Executive Director, Non Fare Revenue, in the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, after having worked as Executive Director, Tourism and Catering. Mr Thakur, an alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, joined the Indian Civil Services in 1990.  As Director (Passenger Marketing) from 2002-2005 in the Ministry of Railways he was engaged in pioneering initiatives like e-ticketing and Tatkal scheme. He was OSD to Member (Traffic), Ministry of Railways during 2005-2007. 

Mr Thakur joined as Private Secretary to the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Government of India in August, 2007 and continued till May 2009. He then shifted to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, where he took up key initiatives like digitalisation of the Indian cable sector, increase in FDI limits in the broadcasting sector, establishment of self-regulatory bodies in India, liberalisation of TV licensing process, etc.

Mr Thakur took over as the Additional Director General in Doordarshan in December 2012.   He spearheaded initiatives like upgradation of DD DTH platform, upgradation of terrestrial channels into 24x7 cable and satellite channels, handling of the entire Government business for Doordarshan, programme acquisition for Doordarshan, etc.
Mr Thakur has served on the Board of Directors of Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) and Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC). He holds an M.B.A. from the Indian Institute of Management, Indore and has a master’s degree in international trade from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.