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
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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.