ISRO Chairman List (1963 to 2023): Name & Working Period
ISRO, or the Indian Space Research Organization, stands as the foremost space agency in India, with its headquarters located in Bengaluru. Functioning under the aegis of the Department of Space and reporting to this overseeing body, the chairman of ISRO also assumes an executive role within the Department of space. Across the decades, spanning from 1963 to 2023, ISRO has been guided by a series of visionary chairpersons who have instrumental in molding India’s progress in the domains of space exploration and technology.
These chairmen have overseen ISRO’s remarkable journey from its humble beginnings to becoming a globally recognized space agency, marked by milestones like launching satellites, interplanetary missions and fostering international collaborations.
In 1962, the Indian government established the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), focusing on upper atmospheric research at the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in Thiruvananthapuram. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), headquartered in Bangalore, took over in 1969, replacing INCOSPAR.
There have been 11 ISRO Chairpersons appointed since 1963. On 12 January 2022, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed S. Somnath as the eleventh chairman of the ISRO. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was the first IRSO Chairman.
S.No. | ISRO Chairman | Tenure | Length of Term |
1. | Dr. Vikram Sarabhai | 1963 to 1971 | 9 years |
2. | Prof. M.G.K. Menon | Jan. 1972 to Sep. 1972 | 9 months |
3. | Prof. Satish Dhawan | 1972 to 1984 | 12 years |
4. | Prof. U.R. Rao | 1984 to 1994 | 10 years |
5. | Dr. k. kasturirangan | 1994 to 2003 | 9 years |
6. | G. Madhavan Nair | 2003 to 2009 | 6 years |
7. | Dr. k. Radhakrishnan | 2009 to 2014 | 5 years |
8. | Dr. Shailesh Nayak | 2015 to 2015 | 11 days |
9. | A.S. Kirar Kumar | 2015 to 2018 | 3 years |
10. | Dr. K. Sivan | Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2022 | 3 years |
11. | S. Somnath | 12 Jan. 2022 to Present | Incumbent |
He is considered the father of the Indian Space Program. Vikram Sarabhai established three institutions:
He was known for his work on cosmic rays and particle physics, particularly on the high-energy interactions of elementary particles.
In 1972, he took over as Chairman of ISRO succeeding Vikram Sarabhai. His efforts led to operational systems like INSAT and PSLV in India.
He took responsibility for the establishment of satellite technology in India in 1972. He was in the lead role in designing the first Indian Satellite ‘Aryabhata’ in 1975.
Under his leadership, ISRO has witnessed several major milestones in the name of PSLV and GSLV. He was also the Project Director for India’s first two experimental earth observation satellites, BHASKARA-I and II.
Chandrayaan-1 was launched under the chairmanship of Madhavan Nair. During his tenure, ISRO accomplished 25 successful missions.
India’s first interplanetary mission ‘Mangalyaan’ was launched under the leadership of Dr. K. Radhakrishnan.
He has done a commendable job in the launch of Chandrayaan-1 and the Mars Orbiter Mission of India. Indian National Regional Navigation System (INRVS) and GAGAN have been developed under his supervision.
His tenure has been marked with the launch of Chandrayaan-2 and the acceleration of India’s manned space programme.
S. Somnath has been appointed as the eleventh chairperson of the ISRO by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
Find More General Studies News Here
As of 2023, the Chairman of ISRO is S. Somnath.
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is considered the father of the Indian Space Program.
Prof. M.G.K. Menon was known for his work on cosmic rays and particle physics. An asteroid, 7564 Gokumenon, was named in his honor.
Prof. Satish Dhawan is regarded as the father of experimental fluid dynamics research in India
Mushrooms are a popular and nutritious food source globally, cultivated in various countries due to…
Durba Banerjee made history as India's first female pilot of Indian airlines, paving the way…
The Indian National Congress (INC) was formed in 1885 to create a platform for political…
The Rajasthan State Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, has approved a significant…
The British government has announced plans to erect a national memorial for Queen Elizabeth II…
In celebration of the birth anniversary of Hockey Legend Major Dhyan Chand and in alignment…