Dr. Abid Hussain is currently Chancellor of English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad; member of International Panel on Democracy & Development of UNESCO; Prof Emeritus at Indian Institute of Foreign Trade; Prof. Emeritus at the Foreign Service Institute of Ministry of External Affairs; Chairman of Ghalib Academy and Vice President of Rumi Foundation. He is a member of Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco and BP Koirala Foundation. He was Trustee of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts Trust. He is currently President of Katha, Chairman of Research Council of National Institute of Science, Technology & Development Studies (CSIR); India-China Economic & Cultural Council; Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, NOIDA Kendra, Member of Board of Trustees of Observer Research Foundation, Member of the Board of Governors Himigri Nabh University, Dehra Dun and several other cultural organizations. He is a member of the National Disaster Management Authority, Nehru Memorial Fund; Population Foundation of India; Foundation for Academic Excellence & Access; Administrative Staff College, Hyderabad; Shankar Lall Murli Dhar Memorial Society; and the Governing Council of Ranbaxy Science Foundation. He is President of Lovraj Memorial Trust. He has been a member of the Indian Administrative Service and served in various capacities at the Centre. He was Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Commerce Secretary and Chairman, IIFT. He became Member, Planning Commission in 1985. Later on he became India’s Ambassador to the U.S.A In 1988 he was honoured with PADAMA BHUSHAN for meritorious services. Thereafter he became Vice Chairman of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and was also the Chancellor of Central University, Hyderabad.

Dr Hussain was for nine years Special Rapporteur to UN on Freedom of Opinion and Expression. Hussain was a member of the Constitution Review Commission set up by Government of India. He was a member of the Prasar Bharati Board till April 2001. Till recently Dr. Hussain was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, New York. He is now the member of the Asia Society, New York.

During his long standing career he was U.N Adviser on Turkey on Community Development for two years and also Chief of Industrial, Technology, Human Settlements and Environment in the UN Regional Commission of ESCAP, Bangkok for seven years.

Dr. Hussain has presided over several national and international conferences and contributed papers on contemporary issues.

He had chaired many important committees set up by Government of India, namely Trade Policy Reforms; Project Exports; CSIR Review Committee for Development of Science & Technology; Textile Policy of the Government of India; Development of Capital Market; and Abid Hussain Committee on Small Scale Industries; Report on “Reorganization of Foreign Service Institute” of India.