Ajay Sawhney has diverse experience across eGovernance and Digital Public Infrastructure, accelerating the growth of IT industry and electronic manufacturing in India, promotion of digital payments, cyber law, cyber security and nurturing technology start-ups.

As Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India from June 2017 to February 2022, he led the Digidhan Mission for promotion of UPI and digital payments, guided the growth of Aadhaar ecosystem and multiple national public digital platforms like Digilocker, Umang, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (Health), Bhashini (language technologies), and initiated Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for rapid growth of electronic manufacturing in India. He also steered the design and rollout of the National Semiconductor Mission.

Prior to this, he worked as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, and was on the boards of Indian Oil, ONGC and Oil India. He also worked as the President & CEO of the National eGovernance Division in Dept of IT, Govt of India.

In the State Government of Andhra Pradesh, he worked as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of AP, Principal Secretary Health, and Secretary IT & Communications. He spearheaded multiple eGovernance projects, actively promoted the growth of IT industry in AP, and led the design and establishment of IIIT, Hyderabad and its emergence as premier research-led institution.