Education

• M.Sc. in Physics
• LL.B., Delhi University
• Master of Intellectual Property, Commerce and Technology, University of New Hampshire (USA)
• Ph.D. on policy initiatives for innovation in neglected diseases, IGNOU 

Profile

Zakir brings over 35 years of distinguished service in the Government of India as an officer of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), retiring in May 2024 as Director General (Systems) heading the e-governance wing of the Income Tax Department. He has held key roles across the Ministries of Finance, Science and Technology, and Education, and was honoured with the Finance Minister’s Award, the highest recognition from the Income Tax Department.

He served as Registrar of Copyright for the Government of India and as the Founding Project Director of the Open-Source Drug Discovery (OSDD) initiative at CSIR, a global open innovation platform for affordable drug discovery targetting neglected diseases. He has represented India at international forums including WIPO, was Indian delegate to the OECD tax forum, delivered talks at the European Parliament and American Chemical Society, and contributed extensively to scholarship on IP, innovation, public health, and technology policy.