Chandigarh: In a significant appointment, Punjab’s first woman Chief Secretary, Vini Mahajan (IAS:1987:PB), has been inducted as a member of the Administrator’s Advisory Council of the Chandigarh Administration.
The official order released by the Administration names Ms. Mahajan among the newly appointed members, joining a group of experts, officials, and eminent citizens who advise the UT Administrator on governance, policy formulation, and public welfare.
A Trailblazer in Indian Bureaucracy
Vini Mahajan, a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre, holds the unique distinction of being the first woman to serve as Chief Secretary of Punjab. She assumed the post on June 26, 2020, marking a historic moment in the state’s bureaucratic history.
Over her 37-year career, Ms. Mahajan has served in several key administrative positions at both the state and central levels, bringing a rare combination of policy depth, field experience, and leadership acumen.
Key Roles Held in Punjab and Centre
Before her appointment as Chief Secretary, Mahajan served as Additional Chief Secretary in several pivotal departments, including:
- Housing & Urban Development
- Industries & Commerce, IT, and Investment Promotion
- Health and Family Welfare, and Finance
At the central level, she served as Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister of India (2007–2012) and earlier as Director in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance (2004–05).
More recently, she served as Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti from January 2022 to October 2024, playing a key role in India’s flagship rural sanitation and clean water initiatives.
Early Career and Field Leadership
At the field level, Mahajan made her mark as Deputy Commissioner of Ropar, becoming the first woman to hold such a post in Punjab in 25 years. She also served as:
- MD, Punjab Infrastructure Development Board Secretary, Power
- First Director, Disinvestment in Punjab, and Special Secretary, Expenditure
Her experience at the cutting edge of administration — spanning governance, finance, and infrastructure — adds invaluable insight to Chandigarh’s advisory mechanism.
Academic Excellence and Global Exposure
An alumnus of Lady Shri Ram College (Delhi University), Mahajan holds a B.A. (Hons.) in Economics and an MBA from IIM Calcutta, where she was placed on the Roll of Honour and later received the Distinguished Alumnus Award.
She was a Hubert Humphrey Fellow (2000–2001) at American University, Washington D.C., and a recipient of the National Talent Search Scholarship, reflecting her consistent academic brilliance and global exposure.
Advisory Role in Chandigarh Administration
Her appointment to the Administrator’s Advisory Council brings a wealth of administrative, developmental, and financial expertise to the Union Territory’s governance framework. The Council’s function is to advise the Administrator on key policy matters, including infrastructure development, public welfare, and service delivery.
Her inclusion is expected to strengthen the Council’s deliberations with her deep understanding of both bureaucratic systems and public policy execution.
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