PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Nandan Nilekani

Nandan Nilekani is an Infosys co-founder whose career connects software, public digital systems, and AI adoption in India. He earned an electrical engineering degree from IIT Bombay in 1978, joined Patni in 1979, helped set up Infosys in 1981, and later led UIDAI's digital identity work. In 2024, he argued for AI applications that reach every citizen; in 2025, he called for India to build its own large language models. As of October 2026, he leads India's examination-reform task force and serves as Infosys chairman.

Now at
Infosys
Works
12
Citations
353
h-index
6

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 14 October 2026.

Photo of Nandan Nilekani

Timeline

  1. 1978

    An engineering degree

    In 1978, he graduates from IIT Bombay with an electrical engineering degree.

  2. 1979–1981

    From Patni to Infosys

    In early 1979, he joins Patni Computer Systems. In July 1981, he helps set up Infosys as a co-founder.

  3. 2002–2007

    Infosys CEO

    He serves as Infosys CEO from March 2002 to April 2007.

  4. 2006

    A Padma Bhushan

    He receives the Padma Bhushan in 2006.

  5. 2009–2014

    Chairing UIDAI

    From 2009 to 2014, he chairs UIDAI and is responsible for implementing India's planned Unique Identity card project.

  6. April–May 2024

    The Finternet working paper

    In April 2024, he co-authors the BIS Working Paper “Finternet: the financial system for the future” with Agustín Carstens, which describes connected financial ecosystems. In May 2024, he argues that India can become the AI use-case capital through applications that reach every citizen.

  7. February 2025

    Indian LLMs and a civic award

    In February 2025, he calls for India to build its own large language models. At AIMA's Managing India Awards in 2025, he receives the inaugural Ratan Tata Corporate Citizen Award.

  8. Since July 2026

    Leading examination reforms

    In July 2026, the government constitutes a high-powered task force on examination reforms under his leadership. By October 2026, the panel holds about 18 panel-level meetings and 40 consultative meetings. At a Bloomberg New Economy forum in October 2026, he says India can lead AI diffusion at scale, with new jobs coming from small businesses; he is Infosys chairman and co-founder.

Sources and credits

Photo: World Economic Forum from Cologny, Switzerland, via Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: commons.wikimedia.org. Cropped to a square and resized. Ask us to remove or replace this photo.

  1. How Infosys' Nandan Nilekani helped transform India into an IT powerhouse businesstoday.in. Checked 14 October 2026.
  2. Nandan Nilekani - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  3. Officers Served in the Past - Unique Identification Authority of India | Government of India - Unique Identification Authority of India | Government of India uidai.gov.in. Checked 14 October 2026.
  4. Finternet: the financial system for the future bis.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  5. India aims to be the AI use-case capital of the world, says Nandan Nilekani moneycontrol.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  6. India should make own LLMs to avoid importing biases: Nandan Nilekani aima.in. Checked 14 October 2026.
  7. Nandan Nilekani gets inaugural Managing India Ratan Tata award aima.in. Checked 14 October 2026.
  8. PM announces constitution of high-powered task force on examination reforms pmindia.gov.in. Checked 14 October 2026.
  9. Exam reforms: Nandan Nilekani-led Task Force holds 58 meetings in two months indianexpress.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  10. India will be leader in AI diffusion at scale, new jobs will come from small businesses: Nandan Nilekani indianexpress.com. Checked 14 October 2026.