Ms. Vidyavathi V is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1991 Karnataka cadre, with over three decades of experience in public administration, policy, governance and institutional leadership at the state and national levels.

She currently serves as Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, a position she has held since November 2025. In this role, she provides leadership on national policies and programmes aimed at advancing the rights, accessibility, inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.

Prior to this, she served as Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, and as Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture. Her extensive central government experience also includes senior positions in the Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet Secretariat, Department of Personnel & Training, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances, and Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.

Earlier in her career, Ms. Vidyavathi held several leadership positions in the Government of Karnataka, including in Panchayati Raj, Women & Child Development, Medical Education and district administration.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and has undertaken advanced training in public policy, management and leadership, including international programmes in the United States.

With her extensive experience across governance and public policy, Ms. Vidyavathi brings significant institutional and administrative expertise to India’s disability inclusion agenda.