From NITI Aayog to IndiGo: Amitabh Kant joins Airlines as additional director

Amitabh Kant, former CEO of NITI Aayog and India’s G20 Sherpa, has formally joined IndiGo’s board as an Additional Director following security clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).

In a regulatory filing, IndiGo’s parent company InterGlobe Aviation confirmed the clearance, making Kant’s appointment effective from the same date. The airline had earlier disclosed his nomination to the board on July 3, pending the mandatory approvals.

Kant has been appointed as a Non-Executive, Non-Independent Director, in line with regulatory norms. His addition comes at a time when IndiGo is aggressively expanding both domestically and internationally, with new fleet inductions and long-haul routes being rolled out.

Amitabh Kant is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Kerala cadre, widely recognised as one of the country’s most influential policy strategists. He served as the CEO of NITI Aayog, India’s premier public policy think tank, from 2016 to 2022, where he played a pivotal role in promoting digital transformation, innovation and sustainable development.

In 2022, he was appointed as India’s G20 Sherpa, representing the country in shaping global economic and development agendas.

Over the course of his career, Kant has spearheaded several flagship national initiatives including Make in India, Startup India, Incredible India and Ease of Doing Business reforms. His experience in steering large-scale policy reforms and international negotiations is expected to bring strategic value to IndiGo’s board as the airline navigates its next phase of growth.