Dr. V. Narayanan – Blueprint for a Century of Space Dominance
Dr. V. Narayanan is the current Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Secretary of the Department of Space, assuming this prestigious position on January 14, 2025. He is a renowned rocket and spacecraft professional with nearly 40 years of experience in the field of rocket science and space research. Before joining ISRO, he served as the Director of the Thiruvananthapuram-based LPSC. Dr. Narayanan was born on May 14, 1964, in a village in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. He studied in Tamil medium until Class 5 and obtained an M.Tech in Cryogenic Engineering from IIT Kharagpur with first rank, followed by a PhD in Aerospace Engineering. Key Roles and Achievements Chairman of ISRO and Secretary of the Department of Space, Government of India, who designed and implemented India’s entire space program. He chairs the Project Management Council (Space Transportation Systems), which makes policy decisions related to all ISRO rocket and launch vehicle projects. 2. Technical Contributions and Historic Work His most significant contribution is the development of India’s K20 cryogenic engine and SEAT 25 cryogenic stage. This technology is the very technology without which India’s heavy rockets would not have been able to reach space.He has also designed and operated propulsion systems and limited engines for large and complex missions such as Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and Mangalyaan. Recently, under his leadership, ISRO successfully tested a powerful semi-cryogenic engine that will help power future heavy launch vehicles. 3. Helping Future Missions His primary goal is to successfully launch Gaganyaan, India’s first human space mission.He commanded Chandrayaan 4, the complex mission to return lunar soil samples to Earth.The Indian Space Station also lays the initial and most important technological foundation for the establishment of India’s own space station by 2035. Major National and Prestigious Awards ISRO Awards
Tansformational Leader in National Security and Public Administration – Dr. Ajay Kumar
Dr. Ajay Kumar, The current Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission, who is holding the charge from15 may in 2025 and will serve in this post till October 2017. He is a retired IAS officer of the 1985 batch and a former Defence Secretary. He is also known for his important role in the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff and the implementation of the Agni Veer scheme. He was born on 2 October 1962 in Jalandhar, Punjab. He also holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Electrical Engineering from India’s top institute, IIT Kanpur. After this, he studied Master of Science in Applied Economics Development Economics from the University of Minnesota, USA. He obtained a doctorate in Business Administration from the Carson School of Management. Administrative Career and Current Affairs After becoming the Chairman of the UPSC in 2025, he organized the first open town hall dialogue in the country’s history with candidates appearing for the Civil Services Examination to promote transparency and reforms in the examination system. Played a key role in the creation of India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, the integration of the three services, and implemented the historic Agneepath scheme to recruit young people into the service. He was also India’s longest-serving Defense Secretary. He emphasized the importance of the service’s weapons, promoted domestic defense production and Made in India, and abolished the government-run Ordnance Factory Board and transformed it into a modern corporate entity. While at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, he designed and launched several major platforms that digitalized the country, including Aadhaar, UPI, mygov.in, and digilocker. Introducing digital life certificates for pensioners, enabling millions of senior citizens to receive their pensions without visiting banks, and launching a transparent online GEM portal to curb corruption in government department purchases. Served as the Managing Director of the Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation, building the state’s IT infrastructure and bringing information technology and digital literacy to rural Kerala in its early days. Key Honors and Awards
India’s First Dalit Railway Board Chairman..
Satish Kumar, an Indian Railway Management Service officer who will assume charge as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Railway Board on September 1, 2024, is the first Dalit officer to hold this position. He is a 1986 batch Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers officer who began his career with the Indian Railways in 1988. Satish Kumar holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from the Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, and a postgraduate diploma in Operations Management and Cyber Law from the Indira Gandhi National Open University. Major Contributions Awards and Honors