Kohli contributed through professional executive roles as the prime mover in one of the largest logistics and distribution companies in India and later for the integration of the largest logistics & supply chain infrastructure enterprises, heading the development of solutions to drive a pan-national footprint of India's first set of Free Trade Zones.

In 2012 he was asked by the Government of India to help incubate the National Centre for Cold-chain Development (NCCD) as its Chief Advisor.

He also was prime mover in establishing a historic MoU of cooperation in cold chain between nodal Indian and French organisations.

He was the French Government's guest of honor and represented India at the International Conference on Sustainable Cold Chain in Paris (April 2013).

He was the principal member of the Indian government's Committee for Doubling Farmers' Income, set up in 2016, where his innovative percepts provoked a paradigm shift in how agricultural supply chain systems are understood.

His status as a thought leader is acknowledged in various Task Forces and Committees on agricultural marketing and logistics.

The award was in appreciation for individual contributions to the industry and for aligning focus on the socio-economic fabric in India.

He is expert member of the Empowered Committee in the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy for implementation of Montreal Protocol and on the Global Advisory Committee of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) In India, he is recognised as one among the few eminent persons from the private sector who have shifted over to public service by taking on specialist advisory roles in government.