Rohini Nilekani

Pioneered India's digital payments revolution through her work in IT and social impact initiatives

Rohini Nilekani (born 1956) is a visionary Indian entrepreneur and philanthropist who played a pivotal role in shaping India's digital economy. As co-founder of the SapientNitro consultancy firm, she helped bridge the gap between technology and social impact. Her most notable contribution came through her leadership at the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), where she advised on the foundational design of Aadhaar - the world's largest biometric ID system that now enables digital payments for over 1.2 billion citizens.

Nilekani's advocacy for inclusive technology led to the creation of the Rythu Thadi initiative connecting farmers to markets via mobile apps. She also co-founded the NIYAMIT platform addressing supply chain inefficiencies in India's agricultural sector. Her book 《Rebooting India》 outlines her vision for leveraging technology to solve systemic challenges.