Govt. Appoints V Narayanan as 11th Chairman ISRO & Secretary of DOS

The government of India has appointed a senior Indian Space Organisation (ISRO scientist V. Narayanan as the 11th  chairman of ISRO and secretary of the Department of Space (DOS). He will succeed the current chairman S.Somanth and assume office on 14 January 2025.

The name of V. Narayanan was approved by the apex Appointments Committee of the Cabinet in a meeting held on 7 January 2025 in New Delhi. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended by the Union Minister for Home Affairs and of Cooperation, Amit Shah.

Tenure of V.Narayanan as ISRO Chairman 

V. Narayanan has been appointed for a term of two years with effect from 14 January 2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.  

About V.Narayanan 

V Narayanan is a distinguished scientist and is an expert in Rocket and Space spacecraft propulsion. He joined ISRO in 1984 and later became the director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).

The Valiamala/Thiruvananthapuram headquartered LPSC is the major research and development center of ISRO. It is responsible for developing propulsion systems for the rockets launched by ISRO  from Earth and for in-space propulsion systems for Spacecraft.

V Narayanan was associated with Sounding Rockets and Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) projects of ISRO’s  Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).

About India Space Administration 

ISRO was set up by the government of India as a national space agency to carry out research in the field of space science on 15 August 1969.

In 1972 the government of India set up two institutions, the Space Commission and the Department of Space (DOS).

The Space Commission is the apex Space body in the country that is responsible for making and supervising policies to promote the development and application of space science and technology for the socio-economic benefit of the country. 

The DOS implements the policies made by the Space Commission through five institutions;  the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO); the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL); the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL); the Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) and the North Eastern-Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC). 

The Chairman of ISRO is also the Secretary of the DOS.

The Headquarters of ISRO and the Secretariat of DOS are located at the same place in Bengaluru.

About ISRO and its Chairman

ISRO was established on 15 August 1969.

It launches its rocket from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh 

Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka

Chairman of ISRO

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was the founder and chairman of ISRO. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is also considered the father of the Indian space programme.

Professor Satish Dhawan is the longest-serving chairman of ISRO.

Shortest Tenure: Prof. M.G.K Menon,9 months as chairman of ISRO.

Also Read: SpaDex Mission of ISRO