Nandan Nilekani
| Nandan Nilekani | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 2, 1955 Sirsi, Karnataka, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (B.Tech.) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, Technocrat, Philanthropist |
| Known for | Co-founder of Infosys Chairman of UIDAI (Aadhaar) Chairman of Infosys (2017–present) |
| Spouse | Rohini Nilekani |
| Children | 2 |
Nandan Nilekani is a distinguished Indian entrepreneur, technologist, author, and philanthropist. He is best known as the co-founder of Infosys, one of India’s largest IT services companies, and for his role as the architect of Aadhaar, the world's largest biometric identity system. Nilekani has been a key driving force in India's digital public infrastructure movement and continues to advocate for responsible AI and digital inclusion.[1]
Career Highlights
Infosys
In 1981, Nandan Nilekani co-founded Infosys with N.R. Narayana Murthy and five others. Serving as CEO from 2002 to 2007, he led the company through a period of massive growth, with revenue multiplying from $500 million to over $3 billion. He returned to Infosys in 2017 as Non-Executive Chairman during a leadership crisis, where he helped stabilize governance and focus on digital innovation.[2]
Aadhaar & UIDAI
In 2009, Nilekani was appointed as the founding Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). He spearheaded the design and deployment of Aadhaar, a 12-digit biometric ID assigned to over 1.4 billion Indians. Despite concerns around privacy and surveillance, Aadhaar has transformed government welfare delivery, digital payments, and identity verification in India.
EkStep Foundation
Along with his wife Rohini Nilekani, he co-founded EkStep Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on improving foundational literacy and numeracy through open digital infrastructure for learning, including initiatives like the Sunbird platform.[3]
Adbhut India
In 2024, Nilekani launched Adbhut India, an open-source AI nonprofit designed to build India's linguistic AI infrastructure and bridge digital divides by enabling vernacular access to large language models.
Views on AI and Digital Transformation
At the 2025 Carnegie Global Technology Summit, Nilekani highlighted:
- India's readiness for AI integration due to its digital public goods infrastructure (Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker)
- Enterprise AI takes time to implement due to complexity and organizational change
- Government deployment of AI is even more challenging given India’s scale and diversity
- Advocated for open-source AI models tailored to Indian languages[4]
Publications
- Imagining India: The Idea of a Renewed Nation (2008) – An exploration of India’s demographic and technological opportunities.
- Rebooting India: Realizing a Billion Aspirations (2015, co-authored with Viral Shah) – Discusses how digital platforms can transform public service delivery.
Awards and Recognition
- Padma Bhushan (2006) – India’s third-highest civilian award
- TIME 100 – Named among the world’s most influential people in 2006 and 2009
- Forbes Asia Businessman of the Year (2006)
- Legend in Leadership Award – Conferred by Yale University in 2009[5]
Personal Life
Nandan Nilekani is married to Rohini Nilekani, a noted philanthropist and author. They have two children, Nihar and Janhavi Nilekani, both Yale University alumni. The family is committed to social causes and is part of The Giving Pledge, having pledged to donate more than half their wealth to philanthropy.
Recent Developments
- In 2025, Nilekani emphasized the need for India-first AI infrastructure using open models to preserve linguistic diversity and drive inclusive innovation.
- He continues to be a leading advocate for open digital public goods, digital ID systems, and ethical AI deployment.
See Also
References
- ↑ https://m.economictimes.com/tech/artificial-intelligence/ai-adoption-to-accelerate-in-india-nandan-nilekani/articleshow/120209542.cms
- ↑ https://www.livemint.com/news/nandan-nilekanis-big-prediction-for-indian-startups-from-2-000-to-1-million-in-20-years-11744362508189.html
- ↑ https://www.financialexpress.com/life/technology-digital-foundation-will-power-ai-in-india-nandan-nilekani-3807032/
- ↑ https://www.business-standard.com/industry/news/india-s-tech-growth-to-enable-faster-ai-adoption-nandan-nilekani-125041100475_1.html
- ↑ https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/ai-turning-out-harder-to-implement-at-scale-than-thought-nandan-nilekani/article69438741.ece