Chandigarh, 1 November 2024: Vini Mahajan, Punjab’s trailblazing first woman Chief Secretary, retired on October 31 after an illustrious 37-year career in state and central government. Announcing her retirement on social media, the 1987 batch IAS officer concluded her current role on central deputation.
Married to former National Investigation Agency Director General Dinker Gupta, who retired in April, Mahajan’s career included key roles across government sectors. She notably served in the Prime Minister’s Office under Dr. Manmohan Singh from 2005 to 2012, handling finance, industry, commerce, and IT sectors, and was instrumental in supporting India’s economy through the global recession.
Mahajan’s achievements include the prestigious National Talent Search Scholarship and the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship at American University in Washington, D.C., awarded in 2000-2001. Earlier in her career, she broke new ground as Punjab’s first female Deputy Commissioner in Ropar district in 1995, where she led an award-winning literacy initiative that earned the National Literacy Award.
