Vini Mahajan

Vini Mahajan is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1987 Punjab cadre, widely recognised for her distinguished career in governance, policy formulation, and public administration. With more than three decades of service, she has held pivotal roles at both the state and central government levels, and became the first woman to serve as Chief Secretary of Punjab.

Early Life and Education

Born into a family with a background in public service, Vini Mahajan completed her schooling in Delhi and was a recipient of the National Talent Search Scholarship. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, and pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, where she was placed on the Roll of Honour for her academic excellence. Her education in economics and management provided a strong analytical foundation for her administrative career.

Early Administrative Career

Mahajan joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1987 and was allotted the Punjab cadre. Early in her career, she served in various field and departmental positions, gaining extensive experience in grassroots governance. In 1995, she became the first woman to serve as Deputy Commissioner of Ropar (now Rupnagar), Punjab. Her tenure in the district was marked by innovative development projects and literacy initiatives, for which Ropar received the Prime Minister’s Literacy Award.

Service in the Central Government

Following her successful tenure in the state, Mahajan served in the Government of India in several capacities. She worked as Director in the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance, where she dealt with national financial and industrial policy. Later, she was appointed as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), serving from 2005 to 2012. In this role, she worked closely on major national programmes, economic reforms, and inter-ministerial coordination, giving her deep insight into policymaking and implementation at the national level.

Senior Roles in the Punjab Government

After returning to the Punjab cadre, Vini Mahajan held a series of key leadership roles in the state government. She served as Principal Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary in departments such as Health and Family Welfare, Housing and Urban Development, Investment Promotion, Industries and Commerce, Governance Reforms, Revenue, and Finance. During this period, she was instrumental in promoting digital governance, simplifying regulatory frameworks, and introducing online grievance redressal systems. She also contributed to industrial growth and investment facilitation, helping to enhance Punjab’s presence in national and global economic forums.

Chief Secretary of Punjab

In June 2020, Mahajan was appointed as the Chief Secretary of Punjab, becoming the first woman to hold this position in the state’s history. Her appointment was a landmark in the administrative landscape of Punjab. As Chief Secretary, she coordinated the state’s administrative machinery and played a central role in managing the COVID-19 response. Her leadership during this critical period was marked by an emphasis on efficient procurement, medical infrastructure enhancement, and coordination between departments to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.

Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation

In January 2022, Vini Mahajan was appointed as Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. In this capacity, she took charge of the national implementation of flagship programmes such as the Jal Jeevan Mission, aimed at providing tap water to every rural household, and the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), focused on sanitation and hygiene improvement in rural India. Her role involved coordinating with multiple states, managing large-scale infrastructure projects, and promoting sustainable water management practices.
In 2024, she was given additional charge of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, reflecting her wide-ranging administrative experience and trusted leadership within the civil service.

Key Achievements and Contributions

Throughout her career, Vini Mahajan has been associated with numerous policy reforms and development initiatives. Some notable achievements include:

• Leading literacy and public awareness campaigns during her tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Ropar, earning national recognition.
• Spearheading investment promotion and governance reforms in Punjab, fostering transparency and efficiency through the use of technology.
• Representing Punjab at international forums, including economic and industrial summits, to attract global investment.
• Implementing digital systems for revenue, housing, and citizen services, contributing to the modernisation of state administration.
• Overseeing national rural development missions under the Jal Shakti Ministry, improving access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities for millions of households.

Leadership Style and Significance

Vini Mahajan is known for her methodical, transparent, and reform-oriented approach to administration. Her leadership emphasises evidence-based decision-making, inter-departmental collaboration, and inclusivity in governance. Her appointment as the first woman Chief Secretary of Punjab symbolised progress in gender representation within the higher civil services.
Her leadership has been characterised by a strong focus on efficiency, citizen-centric service delivery, and digital transformation. Colleagues and subordinates often note her balanced management style and her ability to coordinate large bureaucratic teams effectively while maintaining accountability and discipline.

Broader Context and Impact

Mahajan’s career reflects the broader transformation of Indian bureaucracy in the 21st century, marked by a greater emphasis on transparency, innovation, and gender inclusivity. Her journey illustrates the increasing participation of women in senior administrative roles and demonstrates the expanding role of civil servants in integrating policy, technology, and community welfare.
Her work at the national level, especially in rural infrastructure, water, and sanitation, continues to contribute to India’s sustainable development goals. At the same time, her administrative reforms in Punjab serve as a model for other states aiming to modernise governance and improve service delivery.