Vini Mahajan, IAS, has been elected as the Secretary in the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Mahajan has completed MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, where she was placed on the Roll of Honour. She completed B.A. (Honours) in Economics from Lady Shri Ram College (LSR), Delhi University. Earlier, she was working as the Punjab Chief Secretary from 26th June 2020. Previously she served as Additional Chief Secretary of the Departments of Housing & Urban Development, Government of Punjab and Industries & Commerce, IT and Investment Promotion. She was ACS or Principal Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare since April 2012 for five years. She additionally served as the Principal Secretary Department of Medical Education and Research and Principal Secretary Finance, Punjab. Mahajan worked as the Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister of India from 2007-2012, and previously, in 2004-05 as the Director in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance. She has worked in several capacities in the State of Punjab, as the MD of the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board, as the first Director Disinvestment in the State, as Secretary, Power and as Special Secretary, Expenditure. She has more than eight years of experience in cutting edge jobs at the field level, involving the Deputy Commissioner (the first female in 25 years to be placed as such in Punjab). Mahajan obtained numerous academic awards, comprising the National Talent Search Scholarship. In 2000 –2001, Mahajan was a Hubert Humphrey fellow based at American University in Washington DC. Image Source