Executive Chairman
Rajendra Singh Pawar is the Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of NIIT Limited, a leading Global Talent Development Corporation, and founder of the NIIT University, established with a vision of being the role model of learning, research, innovation and sustainability for the Knowledge Society. He is also Non-executive Chairman of NIIT Learning Systems Limited.
Under his leadership, NIIT has played a key role in shaping the growth of the Indian IT sector, by creating skilled manpower to drive its momentum. Having revolutionized the IT Training industry, he is now involved in establishing an innovative model in Higher Education, the not-for-profit NIIT University.
Mr. Pawar is also member of Governing body of not-for-profit NIIT Foundation, which addresses the skilling and livelihood needs of youth from the underserved segments of the society.
EDUCATION
Mr Pawar did his early schooling in Jammu. Then moved to The Scindia School, Gwalior and from there to IIT Delhi.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Mr Pawar's contributions have been widely acknowledged and he has been conferred prestigious awards:
- Acknowledging Mr Pawar’s contribution to the IT industry in India, he was awarded the country’s prestigious civilian honour, Padma Bhushan, by the President of India in 2011.
- Distinguished Alumnus Award at IIT Delhi in 1995;
- The 'IT man of the Year' by IT industry journal, Dataquest in 1998;
- 'Master Entrepreneur of the Year' by Ernst & Young in 1999;
- Madhav Award in 1999 at the Scindia School, Gwalior;
- Honorary Doctoral Degree by the Rajiv Gandhi Technical University in 2005;
- Maharaja Gulab Singh Award in 2006;
- Lifetime Achievement ICT Award 2019 by Dataquest;
- Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).
- He is a Fellow of the Computer Society of India and is a Distinguished Fellow of Institution of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineers.
PRESTIGIOUS POSITIONS
- Mr Pawar served as a member on the Prime Minister's National Council on Skill Development (2009-2014) and has also been a part of the PM's National Taskforce (1998), commissioned to develop India into an IT Superpower.
- Actively involved in India’s key Chambers of Commerce, Mr Pawar has led several ICT industry fora, including National Association of Software & Service Companies (NASSCOM) as its Chairman in 2011-12.
- Mr Pawar was the Chairman of NASSCOM Cyber Security Task Force that was set up in response to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to see India emerge as a global hub of Cyber Security products and services.
