Profile: Who is Nandan Nilekani?

A global leader in Information Technology (IT) and chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Nandan Nilekani is likely to contest next year's Lok Sabha election from his home state- Karnataka. He may emerge as the Congress party's candidate from the South Bangalore constituency.

The billionaire entrepreneur, Nilekani, who became extremely popular after innovating the Aadhar card facility for every Indian resident, is now taking a plunge towards political career, if reports are to be believed.

According to reports, the Congress is aiming to tap the 'techie vote-bank' by roping in Nilekani, the co-founder of the IT giant & outsourcer Infosys.

Born as Nandan Manohar Nilekani on June 2, 1955 in the town of Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, he is an alma mater of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and has served as the CEO of Infosys in its "glory years" from March 2002 to April 2007.

In 1978, Nilekani met the legendary NR Narayana Murthy at Mumbai-based Patni Computer systems and after three years, he along with Murthy and five others left Patni to establish their own IT company- Infosys.

Even though, he bid farewell to Infosys, but he is still remembered as "someone who dreamed big and made all those dreams come true", by the "Infoscians".

Nilekani's five year term as the chairman of UIDAI comes to an end in July 2014. Under his leadership, 12-digit Aadhar card has been issued to over 400 million citizens of India.

The hugely successful Nilekani also sits on several advisory boards, including those of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Foundation Board.

Nilekani is likely to contest next year's LS election from Bangalore South seat.

58-year-old Nilekani has authored a momentous book called "Imagining India: The Idea of a Renewed Nation", in which he has used his vision to discuss the future of India and its role as an emerging economic giant.

The multi-talented man, Nilekani is married to Rohini Nilekani and the couple is blessed with a son and a daughter.

In his bright career of more than three decades, Nilekani, who "reinvented" himself, time and again, has received many prestigious honours and awards including one of India's highest civilian honours, the Padma Bhushan, in 2006.

Besides, he also became the first Indian to receive the 'Legend in Leadership Award' by the Yale University in November 2009.

Now, as the wealth-creating capitalist, Nilekani reportedly plans to make debut in politics, who knows, may be the sinking ship of Congress, may once again, find a stable stand and Nilekani may give a much needed 'makeover' to Congress!