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Amitabh Kant joins upGrad board as independent director
Kant has been a central figure in India’s reform landscape for more than four decades
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Malvika Choudhary - Thu, 27, Nov 2025
- 13:57 EST
- 11
Amitabh Kant / amitabhkant.co.in
EdTech major upGrad appointed former G20 Sherpa of India Amitabh Kant as independent non-executive director on its board.
The move comes as the company sharpens its global expansion strategy and aligns more closely with national skilling priorities.
Also Read: Fairfax appoints former Niti Aayog Chief Amitabh Kant as Senior Advisor
Kant, a 1980-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, has been a central figure in India’s reform landscape for more than four decades.
His leadership shaped marquee national programs such as Make in India, Startup India, Incredible India, and the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor—initiatives aimed at strengthening manufacturing, promoting entrepreneurship, and positioning India as a competitive global investment destination.
As India’s G20 Sherpa during its presidency, Kant steered consensus across complex global negotiations on digital public infrastructure, sustainable development, and inclusive growth.
His earlier tenure as CEO of NITI Aayog cemented his reputation as a reformer driving digital innovation, sustainability, large-scale public–private partnerships, and startup ecosystem growth.
Before that, he served as secretary of the Department for Industrial Policy and Promotion and held senior roles in the tourism sector, where he helped conceptualize internationally acclaimed nation-branding campaigns.
“I believe India needs new-age skilling, given our demographic advantage,” Kant said, highlighting upGrad’s growing collaborations with universities and industries. “This is what the government has been advocating, and I am glad to join the board of upGrad to further support them in this endeavor.”
Welcoming the appointment, co-founder and chairperson Ronnie Screwvala said Kant’s strategic clarity and experience across national transformation efforts will support upGrad’s global ambitions.
Founded in 2015, upGrad has expanded its footprint across the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the US, while forging partnerships with universities in the UK, Australia, Europe, and North America.
The company has invested in multi-campus infrastructure, AI-led learning systems, and personalized content as part of its contribution to India’s Viksit Bharat @2047 vision of a highly skilled workforce.
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