N. Vittal belonging to the Indian Administrative Service 1960 batch, is one of the eminent public servants of India, who has held important positions in the Government of India, most prominent of which was that of the Central Vigilance Commissioner. He was also awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's 3rd highest civilian award, in 2012. He was born on January 31, 1938 in Thiruvananthapuram. He was educated in Tiruchirapalli and Chennai (then called Madras). He joined the Indian Administrative Service on 16 May 1960. He has held the appointments of Chairman, Telecom Commission and Secretary, Department of Telecommunication, Government of India, Chairman, Public Enterprises Selection Board and before retirement his last appointment was Central Vigilance Commissioner. His experience of more than 35 years covers a wide spectrum with focus on industrial administration, science and technology and security. As Secretary to the Government of India, he initiated policies for boosting software, setting up software technology parks and strategic alliance with the industry. Also he was successful in introducing the electronics hardware technology Park scheme, whereby, mini Hongkongs and mini Singapores could be created in India to boost manufacture of electronic hardware.

He made the Department of Electronics a frontrunner in adjusting to the new industry-friendly policy, encouraging foreign direct investment from IBM, Motorola etc. As Chairman, Telecom Commission he initiated the process of liberalization in the telecom sector and played a major role in getting the National Telecom Policy 1994 approved and announced. His published works include - India Incorporated: Reflections on the Indian Electronics Industry (1994), The Vicious Cycle of Vittal's Law,(1994) The Red Tape Guerrilla(1995), Fighting Corruption and Restructuring Government (2000), and Information Technology: India's Tomorrow. He has edited Export Processing Zones in Asia -Some Dimensions published by Asian Productivity Organization (1977).He is a regular columnist for The Economic Times and the Web magazine Rediff on the Net. He is included in the list of "Fifty men and women who shaped the economy" in the fifty years after India's independence by the Business Today. He is the Honorary Fellow of the IETE.