Nandan Nilekani-Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)

NandanNilekani was the Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). He also headed TAGUPwhich was the Government of India’s technology committeek

He is a member of Indian National Congress.He is a member of the board of governors of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) and the president of NCAER. He is also on boards of the World Economic Forum Foundation and the Bombay Heritage Fund.Nandan was born on 2 June 1955 at Bangalore, Karnataka. He belongs to Konkani Brahmin community fromKarnataka. His father was a textile manager and worked as a GM of Mysore and Minerva Mills and subscribed to Fabian Socialist ideals. He was truly inspired by his father and was emphasized by the importance of public service. He has an elder brother who works in the Nuclear Energy Institute. He completed his schooling from the Bishop Cotton Boys’ School and St. Joseph High School Dharwad in Karnataka.

He pursued electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in Mumbai.He started his career in Patni Computer Systems under N.R. Narayana Murthy. Along with Narayana Murthy, five others andNandanhave set up the company Infosys. For the five years from 2002-2007 he served as the CEO. He held a large hold in making the company to core success. His positions include managing director, president and chief operating officer. This created several jobs in Karnataka and India.In the year 2009 he left Infosys to serve as the chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India. It was a cabinet-ranking position for which he was invited by the Prime Minister. Under his authority he implemented Multipurpose National Identity Card, or Unique Identity card (UID Card) project in India.He had issued 750 million ID cards so far. His aim was to provide a unique identification number for all residents of India as the welfare services. The biometric identification method was the biggest project to drive government database of the entire population of India.

He wrote a bookThe Idea of a Renewed Nation which appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He joined the Indian National Congress in March 2014 for which he contested from the Bangalore South constituency. He married RohiniNilekaniwhom he met atIIT. The couple has two children Nihar and Janhavi. As philanthropist, he gave his wealth to various causes like in education and healthcare.They have also funded non-profit efforts in water infrastructure, micro-credit and social research.

Awards
In 2004, he was awarded the Corporate Citizen of the Year at the Asia Business Leaders Awards.
In 2005, he received Joseph Schumpeter Prize for innovative services in economy, economic sciences and politics.
In 2009, he was placed in the Time 100 list of ‘World’s Most Influential People’ by Time magazine and was presented the ‘Legend in Leadership Award’ by the Yale University. He was the first Indian to receive the top honor.
In 2011, he received the honorary Doctor of Law degree by the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and Transformational Idea of the Year Award from NDTV Indian of the Year.
In 2006, he was the youngest entrepreneurs to join 20 global leaders on the World Economic Forum (WEF) Foundation Board, named the Businessman of the Year by Forbes Asia and received the India’s highest civilian honors,the Padma Bhushan.