Trailblazer IAS Officer Vini Mahajan Joins Chandigarh Advisory Council: Punjab’s First Woman Chief Secretary Brings 37 Years of Governance Expertise
In a noteworthy move, senior IAS officer and Punjab’s first woman Chief Secretary, Vini Mahajan (IAS:1987:PB), has been appointed as a member of the Administrator’s Advisory Council of the Chandigarh Administration.
The official order issued by the administration lists Ms. Mahajan among newly inducted members of the high-level advisory body that includes domain experts, senior officials, and prominent citizens who assist the Union Territory’s Administrator in governance, policy planning, and welfare initiatives.
A Trailblazer in Indian Bureaucracy
A 1987-batch officer of the Punjab cadre, Vini Mahajan holds the distinction of being the first woman ever to serve as Chief Secretary of Punjab, a position she assumed on June 26, 2020. Her appointment marked a historic breakthrough in the state’s administrative leadership.
Throughout her 37-year-long career, she has held several critical posts at both state and central levels, earning recognition for her policy insight, reform-oriented approach, and leadership in public administration.
Key Roles in Punjab and the Central Government
Before becoming Chief Secretary, Ms. Mahajan held major portfolios as Additional Chief Secretary in departments such as:
Housing & Urban Development
Industries, Commerce, IT, and Investment Promotion
Health and Family Welfare
Finance
At the Centre, 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 (2004–2005).
More recently, she was Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti (2022–2024), where she played a crucial role in advancing flagship national programs related to clean water and rural sanitation.
Early Career and Ground-Level Leadership
At the district level, Ms. Mahajan broke another glass ceiling by becoming the first woman Deputy Commissioner of Ropar in 25 years. She also served in key financial and infrastructural roles, including:
Managing Director, Punjab Infrastructure Development Board
Secretary, Power Department
First Director, Disinvestment in Punjab
Special Secretary, Expenditure
Her wide-ranging experience in governance, finance, and project implementation has given her a deep understanding of how to translate policy into impactful results on the ground.
Academic Achievements and Global Exposure
Ms. Mahajan is an alumna of Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University, where she earned a B.A. (Hons.) in Economics, followed by an MBA from IIM Calcutta, where she featured on the Roll of Honour and later received the Distinguished Alumnus Award.
She was also a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow (2000–2001) at American University, Washington D.C., and a National Talent Search Scholarship awardee — reflecting her strong academic record and global perspective on governance.
Role in the Chandigarh Administration
As a member of the Administrator’s Advisory Council, Ms. Mahajan brings vast administrative, financial, and developmental expertise to Chandigarh’s policy framework. The Council advises the Administrator on key governance matters, including infrastructure development, social welfare, and service delivery improvements.
Her induction is expected to enrich the Council’s decision-making with her deep institutional knowledge and her proven ability to blend policy design with effective execution — making her one of the most valuable additions to the city’s governance team.
