New Delhi: IAS officer Saurabh Vijay assumed charge as the Chief Executive Officer of the Unique Identification Authority of India on Monday. He belongs to the 1998 batch of the Maharashtra cadre.
Saurabh Vijay previously served as Principal Secretary (Expenditure) in the Finance Department of the Maharashtra government before joining UIDAI. Officials said he held several important positions in both the Maharashtra government and the Central government during his administrative career.
A civil engineering graduate from IIT-Delhi, Saurabh Vijay worked in multiple departments related to planning, tourism, education, and finance. His earlier assignments in Maharashtra included Principal Secretary Planning and Development Commissioner, Principal Secretary Tourism, Secretary Medical Education, and Secretary Higher and Technical Education.
Officials stated that he also served in several important positions during central deputation. These assignments included Director at the President’s Secretariat in New Delhi and Advisor to the Executive Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Sri Lanka at the World Bank in Washington D.C.
Saurabh Vijay held key administrative positions before UIDAI role
The appointment places Saurabh Vijay at the helm of UIDAI, the authority responsible for managing Aadhaar and related digital identity services across India. UIDAI plays a major role in digital governance, identity verification, and delivery of government welfare services.
During his administrative career, Saurabh Vijay handled policy matters linked to expenditure management, infrastructure planning, education, and tourism development. Officials noted that his experience in state and central administration contributed to his appointment as UIDAI chief.
His tenure in Maharashtra included work on planning and financial management initiatives connected to state development programmes. He also handled responsibilities related to higher education and technical education departments.
At the national level, Saurabh Vijay gained experience in governance and international policy coordination through his assignments in New Delhi and Washington D.C. His role at the World Bank involved engagement with regional matters concerning South Asian countries.
UIDAI officials announced his appointment through an official statement issued on Monday. The authority oversees Aadhaar enrolment, identity authentication, and digital services linked to welfare schemes and public administration.
The appointment comes at a time when digital identity systems continue to play a major role in governance, financial inclusion, and delivery of public services across the country.
