Mahendra Singh Payaal is the Executive Vice President and Chief Program Officer at the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), where he leads key government programs, sector skill council collaboration, and industry skilling initiatives. A seasoned public policy and program management professional, he played a pivotal role in designing and implementing flagship national schemes such as PMKVY, PM Vishwakarma, and the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), driving large-scale workforce development across India.
With a career spanning leadership roles in NSDC, the Ministry of Defence, and earlier service in telecommunications and defence operations, he brings deep expertise in strategic planning, policy execution, and cross-sector collaboration.
An alumnus of FMS Delhi with additional specialization in defence strategy and technology domains, he is recognized for his ability to deliver high-impact national programs and strengthen industry-led skilling ecosystems.