A net worth of US$3.2 billion makes Nandan Nilekani the 100th richest person in India as of October 2025. Born in 1955 at the Vanivilas Women and Children Hospital, he built a career spanning the founding of a global software leader, the implementation of a national biometric database, and the promotion of digital public infrastructure.
Founding Infosys
Nilekani began his professional career in 1978 at Mumbai-based Patni Computer Systems. In 1981, he co-founded Infosys alongside N.R. Narayana Murthy and five others. Throughout his tenure at the firm, he served in roles including president, managing director, and chief operating officer. He acted as CEO from March 2002 to April 2007, a period during which the company's revenue grew sixfold to $3 billion. After a decade away, he returned as non-executive chairman on 24 August 2017 following the resignation of Vishal Sikka.
Public Identity and Governance
In July 2009, Nilekani left the private sector to chair the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), a cabinet-ranking role initiated by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. He led the development of Aadhaar, a biometric ID system that provided identification numbers to 1.14 billion people by April 2017. Additionally, he was instrumental in creating the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to modernize digital financial transactions. He later chaired government committees including TAGUP and a 2026 task force assigned to improve the security of the national examination system.
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Nilekani serves as president of the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), an independent economic research organization established in 1956. Beyond his institutional work, he chairs EkStep, a non-profit foundation he established with a $10 million commitment to support literacy and numeracy through gamified applications. In 2017, he and his wife, Rohini, joined the Giving Pledge, committing 50 percent of their wealth to philanthropic causes.
Political and Academic Engagement
A member of the Indian National Congress, Nilekani contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election for the Bangalore South constituency, where he was defeated by BJP candidate Ananth Kumar by 228,575 votes. His academic background includes time at Bishop Cotton Boys' School and an electrical engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. He holds membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has contributed to several advisory boards, such as the World Economic Forum Foundation.
Fast facts
- Born: 1955, Bangalore
- Education: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Key Company: Infosys
- Political Party: Indian National Congress
- Citizenship: India
- Major Award: Padma Bhushan
- Languages: Hindi, Marathi, English, Kannada, Konkani
Questions readers ask
What is Nandan Nilekani’s current role at Infosys?
He has served as the non-executive chairman of the board since 24 August 2017.
Did Nandan Nilekani succeed in his bid for the 2014 Lok Sabha election?
No, he lost the Bangalore South constituency race to Ananth Kumar by 228,575 votes.
What is the focus of the EkStep platform?
It is a non-profit initiative designed to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes for children using technology-led tools.
Achievements
- Affiliated with IGATE Patni and Infosys limited
- Educated at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and Bishop Cotton Boys' School
