Nilkanth S. Avhad, born on 23 February 1972, is an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1999 batch, Punjab cadre. He holds a B.Tech. degree and is currently serving as Principal Secretary in the Water Supply and Sanitation Department since 22 January 2024. Throughout his career, he has held various positions including Secretary, Registrar, Commissioner of State Tax/Taxation, Managing Director, Counsellor Joint Secretary Equivalent, Executive Director, Director, PS to Minister, General Manager, Special Secretary, Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner, Additional Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, and Assistant Commissioner. He is proficient in English, Hindi, and Marathi.