Tejendra Khanna was born in Patna, Bihar on 16 December 1938.

He was a 1961 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.

He served as Commercial Counselor, Indian High Commission, U.K. (1975–77), Chief Controller, Imports and Exports (1989–91), Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Food (1992–93) and Commerce Secretary to Government of India (1993–96).

Governor and Administrator of the National Capital and served in this capacity up to April 1998.

[1] He was conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Political Science, by the Wonkwang University on 2010 and a Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) by TERI University.