Know more about Vinai Kumar Saxena, Delhi’s new Lieutenant Governor

President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday appointed Vinai Kumar Saxena as the new Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Saxena  replaces Anil Baijal, who resigned from the post last week.

“The President of India has been pleased to appoint Vinai Kumar Saxena to be the Lt Governor of National Capital Territory of Delhi with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office,” read a press note by the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Born on March 23, 1958, Saxena was Chairman of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). He was appointed to the post in 2015.

He is an alumnus of Kanpur University and, according to his profile on the KVIC website, he also has a pilot’s licence. Further, he is a “philanthropist in vision and corporate scientist in action”.

Also read: Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal resigns, citing personal reasons

Saxena earlier worked with the JK Group. On March 5, 2021, he was appointed as one of the members of the National Committee to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence, according to his profile on the KVIC website. The committee is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Member of Padma Awards panel

In November 2020, he was nominated as a member of the Padma Awards Selection Committee for the year 2021 by the Centre.  The committee is responsible for scrutinising the nominations received for Padma Awards.

Saxena has also been a member of Research Council of CSIR and a member of University court, JNU.

In 1991, he had formed an NGO, National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), which opposed Medha Patkar’s Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) for attempts to stop construction of the Sardar Sarovar Project and other upcoming hydro projects in Narmada Valley since 1991.