New Delhi: The Central Government has made two key appointments in India’s digital governance and technology ecosystem, naming senior IAS officer Saurabh Vijay as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the IndiaAI Mission and appointing Priyank Bharti as Chairperson of the Online Gaming Authority.
While Saurabh Vijay will hold the IndiaAI Mission charge in addition to his existing responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Priyank Bharti will lead the newly constituted Online Gaming Authority while continuing as Director General of the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
The appointments fill important leadership positions in two rapidly evolving sectors—artificial intelligence and online gaming regulation.
Saurabh Vijay Given Additional Charge of IndiaAI Mission CEO
The Centre has appointed Saurabh Vijay (IAS:1998:MH) as the Chief Executive Officer of the IndiaAI Mission.
He will hold the position in addition to his current assignment as CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the statutory authority responsible for managing India’s Aadhaar ecosystem.
The IndiaAI Mission CEO post had remained vacant following the departure of former CEO Abhishek Singh (IAS:1995:NG) from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
The appointment is expected to provide leadership continuity to the government’s flagship artificial intelligence initiative aimed at strengthening India’s AI ecosystem, computing infrastructure, innovation, startup support, talent development and responsible AI deployment.
Who is Saurabh Vijay?
Saurabh Vijay is a 1998-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre and currently serves as CEO of UIDAI.
He assumed charge of the Aadhaar authority on May 18, 2026.
Educational Background
Born on February 28, 1975, Vijay is domiciled in Rajasthan and holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.
Extensive Administrative Experience
With more than 28 years of administrative experience, Vijay has held several important positions in the Maharashtra Government, Government of India and international institutions.
He has also been empanelled for appointment to Additional Secretary-level positions in the Government of India.
Key Positions Held
Prior to his appointment at UIDAI, Vijay served as Principal Secretary (Expenditure) in Maharashtra’s Finance Department.
He also served as:
- Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner, Maharashtra
- Principal Secretary, Tourism and Cultural Affairs
- Secretary, Medical Education and Drugs
- Secretary, Higher and Technical Education
- Managing Director, Maharashtra Agro-Industrial Development Corporation (MAIDC)
- Managing Director, Maharashtra State Seeds Corporation Limited (MSSCL)
Central and International Assignments
His central deputation experience spans more than 13 years.
Among his notable assignments are:
- Director at the President’s Secretariat
- Advisor to the Executive Director at the World Bank in Washington D.C., representing Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka
Priyank Bharti Appointed Chairperson of Online Gaming Authority
The government has also appointed Priyank Bharti (IAS:2001:PB) as Chairperson of the Online Gaming Authority.
Bharti will continue to serve as Director General of the National Informatics Centre (NIC), one of India’s most important digital governance institutions.
His appointment comes as the government continues to strengthen the regulatory framework governing online gaming platforms and digital ecosystems.
Who is Priyank Bharti?
Priyank Bharti is a 2001-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre and a direct recruit through the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
He currently serves as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and simultaneously holds the charge of Director General, NIC.
Educational Qualifications
Born on August 25, 1974, Bharti hails from Delhi.
He holds:
- Bachelor of Engineering (Computers)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Leadership in Digital Governance
In May 2026, Bharti was empanelled and appointed as Additional Secretary in MeitY.
He also assumed full charge of the National Informatics Centre, which manages critical digital infrastructure supporting governance and public services across India.
Previous Assignments
Before moving to the Centre, Bharti served as Administrative Secretary in Punjab’s Department of Science, Technology and Environment from September 2024.
He was additionally entrusted with the Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation in December 2024.
His career also includes service as:
- Senior Directing Staff (Civil), National Defence College
- Deputy Commissioner, Roop Nagar
- Additional Deputy Commissioner
- Sub-Divisional Magistrate
Experience Across Key Governance Sectors
Over a career spanning 25 years, Bharti has worked extensively in:
- Information Technology
- Land Revenue Administration
- Transport
- Environmental Governance
- Public Administration
He has spent more than 8.6 years on central deputation assignments.
Strengthening India’s AI and Digital Regulatory Framework
The appointments of Saurabh Vijay and Priyank Bharti come at a time when India is accelerating efforts in artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure and online platform regulation.
While Vijay will now oversee the implementation of the IndiaAI Mission alongside UIDAI, Bharti’s appointment to the Online Gaming Authority places an experienced technology administrator at the forefront of India’s evolving online gaming regulatory architecture.
Together, the appointments signal the government’s continued focus on strengthening leadership across key technology and digital governance institutions.
