Palashkhanra73 at 13:04, 3 March 2026

2026-03-03T13:04:45Z

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{{Short description|Indian government official}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Chairperson
| body = the Indian Space Research Organisation
| insignia = File:Indian_Space_Research_Organisation_Logo.svg
| insigniasize = 150px
| nativename =
| image = DrVNarayanan ISROHQ 15012025.png
| alt =
| incumbent = [[V. Narayanan (engineer)|V. Narayanan]]
| incumbentsince = 14 January 2025
| residence =
| style =
| termlength =
| type = Chairman
| status = Head of [[ISRO]]
| reportsto = [[Prime Minister of India]]
| precursor = Chairman of [[Indian National Committee for Space Research]] & Secretary, Department of Space
| formation = 1963 (as chairman of [[INCOSPAR]])
| appointer = [[Appointments Committee of the Cabinet]] of [[Government of India]]
| inaugural = [[Vikram Sarabhai]]
| salary = {{INRConvert|2.5|l}} {{small|(Monthly basic)}}<ref>{{Cite report|title=Report of the Seventh Central Pay Commission|date=November 2015|url=https://doe.gov.in/sites/default/files/7cpc_report_eng.pdf|journal=[[The Gazette of India]]|publisher=Department of Expenditure|access-date=2020-09-26}}</ref>
| website = [https://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/chairman-isro-secretary-dos Chairman ISRO, Secretary DOS]
}}

The '''Chairperson of the Indian Space Research Organisation''' is the statutory head of [[ISRO]]. The officeholder is a secretary to the [[Government of India]] and an executive of the [[Department of Space]] (DoS) which directly reports to the [[Prime Minister of India]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Space commission|url=https://www.dos.gov.in/space-commission|website=Department of Space|access-date=2020-09-26|archive-date=11 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811235812/https://www.dos.gov.in/space-commission|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Indian National Committee for Space Research]] (INCOSPAR) was founded in 1962 under the [[Department of Atomic Energy]] (DAE) with [[Vikram Sarabhai]] as its chairperson which in 1969 became ISRO.<ref name="mangalorean">{{cite web|url=http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=133606|title=Mangalorean.Com- Serving Mangaloreans Around The World!|publisher=mangalorean.com|access-date=2014-02-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222043145/http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=133606|archive-date=2014-02-22}}</ref> In 1972, government of India had set up a space commission and DoS and brought ISRO under DoS.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/department-of-space-and-isro-hq |title=Department of Space and ISRO HQ - ISRO |access-date=2020-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328053630/https://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/department-of-space-and-isro-hq |archive-date=28 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since Sarabhai assumed the position, there have been eleven chairmen of the ISRO, with [[Satish Dhawan]] serving the longest term of 12 years as the chairman. Most of the chairmen have been [[South Indian]]s.

Recently on 8 January 2025, The Central Government has appointed Dr. [[V. Narayanan (engineer)|V. Narayanan]], currently the director of [[Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre]] (LPSC), [[Thiruvananthapuram]], as the new chairperson of ISRO, and also as the secretary of the DoS.<ref>{{cite web |title=V Narayanan to Lead ISRO: Succeeds S Somanath as New Chairman |url=https://www.brutimes.com/news/science-technology/v-narayanan-to-lead-isro-succeeds-s-somanath-as-new-chairman |website=Bru Times News |language=en}}</ref>

== List of chairpersons of ISRO ==
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-size:small"
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type=number | {{abbr|No.|Number}}
! rowspan="2" | Portrait
! rowspan="2" | Name {{small|(Lifespan)}}
! colspan="3" | Term
! class="unsortable" rowspan="2" | Ref(s)
|-
! Start
! End
! data-sort-type=value | Duration
|-
! rowspan="2"; data-sort-type=number | 1
| rowspan="2" | [[File:Dr Vikram Sarabhai ISRO.webp|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Vikram|Sarabhai}} {{small|(1919–1971)}}
| {{dts|1963}}
| {{dts|1971}}
| rowspan="2" data-sort-value="2920" | 8 years
| rowspan="2" | <ref name="isro">{{cite web|url=http://www.isro.org/Ourchairman/Former/vsbhai.aspx|title=Welcome To ISRO :: Former Chairman :: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai - Introduction|publisher=isro.org|access-date=2014-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114024252/http://isro.org/Ourchairman/Former/vsbhai.aspx|archive-date=2013-11-14|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|--bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| colspan="2"| Founder of [[INCOSPAR]] and widely regarded as father of Indian space program. His efforts led to creation of Indian Space Research Organisation.
|-
! rowspan="2"; data-sort-type=number | 2
| rowspan="2" | [[File:MGK Menon.webp|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|M. G. K.|Menon}} {{small|(1928–2016)}}
| {{dts|January 1972}}
| {{dts|September 1972}}
| rowspan="2" data-sort-value="270" | 9 months
| rowspan="2" | <ref name="isro2">{{cite web|url=http://www.isro.org/Ourchairman/Former/menon.aspx|title=Welcome To ISRO :: Former Cha
|publisher=isro.org|access-date=2014-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211042639/http://isro.org/Ourchairman/Former/menon.aspx|archive-date=2014-02-11|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|--bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| colspan="2" | He was notable mostly for his work on [[cosmic rays]] and [[particle physics]] particularly on the high-energy inter-actions of elementary particles.
|-
! rowspan="2"; data-sort-type=number | 3
| rowspan="2"|[[File:S Dhawan official Portrait ISRO.webp|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Satish|Dhawan}} {{small|(1920–2002)}}
| 1973
| 1984
| rowspan="2" data-sort-value="4380" | 12 years
| rowspan="2" | <ref name="isro3">{{cite web|url=http://www.isro.org/Ourchairman/Former/satishdhawan.aspx|title=Welcome To ISRO:ŖṢ★: Former Chairmen:: Prof Satish DhawanSatish Dhawan|publisher=isro.org|access-date=2014-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211050819/http://isro.org/Ourchairman/Former/satishdhawan.aspx|archive-date=2014-02-11|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|--bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| colspan="2" | Satish Dhawan is known for his work on fluid dynamics and his tenure as longest serving chief of ISRO. His era was marked by India attaining orbital launch capability in 1980 for the first time and start of [[INSAT]] program which became base for further development of spacecraft technologies.
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type=number | 4
| rowspan="2" | [[File:U R Rao ISRO.webp|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Udupi Ramachandra|Rao}} {{small|(1932–2017)}}
| {{dts|1984}}
| {{dts|1994}}
| rowspan="2" data-sort-value="3650" | 10 years
| rowspan="2" | <ref name="isro4">{{cite web|url=http://www.isro.org/Ourchairman/Former/urroa.aspx|title=Welcome To ISRO :: Former Chairman - Prof.Udupi Ramachandra Rao|publisher=isro.org|access-date=2014-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211043212/http://isro.org/Ourchairman/Former/urroa.aspx|archive-date=2014-02-11|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.org/Ourchairman/former/urrao_introduction.aspx |title=Welcome to ISRO :: Former Chairman :: Prof. Udupi Ramachandra Rao - Introduction |access-date=2020-09-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107011924/http://www.isro.org/Ourchairman/former/urrao_introduction.aspx |archive-date=7 January 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|--bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| colspan="2" | Also served as chancellor of [[Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology]]; Rao pushed for launch vehicle development which subsequently led to realisation of [[PSLV]] and later [[GSLV]] rockets, marked as key boosts to India's space capabilities. Launch capabilities with [[INSAT]] program eventually turned India into a major spacefaring nation.
|-
! rowspan="2" ; data-sort-type=number | 5
| rowspan="2" | [[File:K. Kasturirangan (cropped).jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Krishnaswamy|Kasturirangan}} {{small|(1940–2025)}}
| {{dts|1994}}
| {{dts|27 August 2003}}
| rowspan="2" data-sort-value="3285" | 9 years
| rowspan="2" | <ref name="isro5">{{cite web|url=http://www.isro.org/Ourchairman/Former/drkkasturirangan.aspx|title=Welcome To ISRO :: Former Chairman :: Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan - Introduction|publisher=isro.org|access-date=2014-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026112226/http://www.isro.org/Ourchairman/Former/drkkasturirangan.aspx|archive-date=2014-10-26|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|--bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| colspan="2" | His era marked development of improved spacecraft in INSAT series and development of [[Indian Remote Sensing Programme|IRS]] series of remote sensing satellites and major improvements in [[Earth observation satellite|earth observation satellite technologies]]. His tenure also saw operationalisation of PSLVs and first flight of GSLV which made India self sufficient launching its smaller & medium EO satellites.
|-
! rowspan="2"; data-sort-type=number | 6
| rowspan="2" | [[File:ജി-മാധവൻ-നായർ.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|G. Madhavan|Nair}} {{small|(1943– )}}
| {{dts|1 September 2003}}
| {{dts|29 October 2009}}
| rowspan="2" data-sort-value="2248" | {{age in years and days|2003|09|01|2009|10|29}}
| rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isro.org/Ourchairman/Former/gmnair_introduction.aspx|title=Shri G Madhavan Nair|date=2008-11-11|publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation|work=About ISRO|access-date=2009-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111044746/http://www.isro.org/Ourchairman/Former/gmnair_introduction.aspx|archive-date=2009-11-11|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|--bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| colspan="2" | Nair holds significant expertise on development of [[Multistage rocket|multi-stage launch vehicles]] and his era witnessed operationalisation of various variants of PSLV rocket. His tenure saw commencement of [[Indian Human Spaceflight Programme]] and launch of extraterrestrial exploration mission [[Chandrayaan-I]]. Following a controversial S-band spectrum deal involving [[Antrix Corporation]], he had to step down.
|-
! rowspan="2"; data-sort-type=number | 7
| rowspan="2" | [[File:K Radhakrishnan 2013 2.JPG|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Koppillil|Radhakrishnan}} {{small|(1949–)}}
| {{dts|30 October 2009}}
| {{dts|31 December 2014}}
| rowspan="2" data-sort-value="1887" | {{age in years and days|2009|10|30|2014|12|31}}
| rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isro.org/Ourchairman/Present/chairman.aspx|title=Dr. K. Radhakrishnan|date=2008-11-11|publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation|work=About ISRO|access-date=2009-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112094538/http://www.isro.org/Ourchairman/present/chairman.aspx|archive-date=2013-11-12|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/indias-space-odyssey-isro-creates-history-in-2014/|title=India's space odyssey: ISRO creates history in 2014|date=2014-12-27|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2020-09-28}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/isros-timeline-1960s-to-today|title=ISRO's Timeline from 1960s to Today - ISRO|publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation|access-date=2020-09-28|archive-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082200/https://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/isros-timeline-1960s-to-today|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|--bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| colspan="2" | He joined [[VSSC]] as a development engineer for electro-mechanical devices of launch vehicles and later oversaw annual budget and plans and database for resources. Introduction of [[IRNSS]] made India one of few countries with own navigation systems while introduction of [[GSLV Mk III]] later enabled India to launch its heavier satellites also. His era also witnessed successful launch and orbital insertion of [[Mars Orbiter Mission]], India's first Mars mission and cancellation of collaboration with Russia and redefining [[Chandrayaan-2]] with Indian design and systems. Successful flight of India's own cryogenic stage on GSLV-D5 made it one of six countries with full launch capabilities.{{efn|Others include [[NASA]] (United States), [[Roscosmos|RFSA]] (Russia), [[European Space Agency]] (EU), [[CNSA]] (China) and [[JAXA]] (Japan).}}
|-
! rowspan="2"; data-sort-type=number | -
| rowspan="2" | [[File:Shailesh Nayak (cropped).jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Shailesh|Nayak}} {{small|(1953– )}}
| {{dts|01 January 2015}}
| {{dts|12 January 2015}}
| rowspan="2" data-sort-value="11" | {{age in years and days|2015|01|01|2015|01|12}}
| rowspan="2" | <ref>[https://www.deccanchronicle.com/141231/nation-current-affairs/article/radhakrishnan-retires-leaving-isro-its-most-glorified-pedestal Shailesh Nayak appointed as new ISRO chairman, Radhakrishnan retires]</ref>
|--bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| colspan="2" | He was primarily engaged with studies related to [[oceanography]] and [[remote sensing]] and served as interim chief of ISRO for a brief period of 11 days.
|-
! rowspan="2"; data-sort-type=number | 8
| rowspan="2" | [[File:A. S. Kiran Kumar (cropped).jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|A. S. Kiran|Kumar}} {{small|(1952– )}}
| {{dts|14 January 2015}}
| {{dts|14 January 2018}}
| rowspan="2" data-sort-value="1095" | {{age in years and days|2015|01|14|2018|01|14}}
| rowspan="2" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.isro.gov.in/update/14-jan-2015/s-kiran-kumar-takes-over-secretary-department-of-space-chairman-space-commission|title=A S Kiran Kumar takes over as Secretary, Department of Space, Chairman, Space Commission and Chairman, ISRO|website=www.isro.gov.in|access-date=2016-10-17|archive-date=16 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016144917/http://www.isro.gov.in/update/14-jan-2015/s-kiran-kumar-takes-over-secretary-department-of-space-chairman-space-commission|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|--bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| colspan="2" | His tenure is attributed to [[Hypersonic Flight Experiment|HEX]] which marks beginning of development of [[Reusable launch system|reusable-launch vehicle]], first orbital flight of GSLV Mk III, completion of [[NAVIC]] and launch of [[Astrosat]], India's first space based observatory.
|-
! rowspan="2"; data-sort-type=number | 9
| rowspan="2" | [[File:K. Sivan (cropped).jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|K.|Sivan}} {{small|(1957– )}}
| {{dts|15 January 2018}}
| {{dts|15 January 2022}}
| rowspan="2" data-sort-value="1460" | {{age in years and days|2018|01|15|2022|01|15}}
| rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite news |title=K. Sivan takes charge as new ISRO chairman |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/k-sivan-takes-charge-as-new-isro-chairman/article22446006.ece |access-date=1 November 2018 |work=The Hindu |date=16 January 2018 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
|--bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| colspan="2" | He earlier served as director of [[VSSC]] and [[Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre|LPSC]] and participated in development of [[PSLV]] rockets. His tenure was marked by the [[Chandrayaan-2]] project which resulted in a failed Moon landing. His tenure also saw the acceleration of India's crewed space program. Short-term goals include launch of [[Chandrayaan-3]] to attempt a successful soft lunar landing, putting humans in space, launching missions [[Shukrayaan-I|to Venus]] and the [[Aditya-L1|Sun]] and development of [[SCE-200]] rocket engine to facilitate realisation of India's heavy lift launch vehicle and increase commercial operations. He is also known for developing trajectory simulation software named SITARA which is still in use by ISRO.
|-
! rowspan="2"; data-sort-type=number | 10
| rowspan="2" | [[File:S. Somanath, Director of VSSC, ISRO, speaks during the Heads of Agency Plenary of the 70th International Astronautical Congress (cropped).jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | {{sortname|S.|Somanath}} {{small|(1963– )}}
| {{dts|15 January 2022}}
| 13 January 2025
| rowspan="2" data-sort-value="1094" | {{age in years and days|2022|01|15|2025|1|13}}
| rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite news |date=2022-01-12|title=Malayali scientist Dr S Somanath appointed as ISRO chairman |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=728083&u=malayali-scientist-dr-s-somanath-appointed-as-isro-chairman|access-date=2022-01-13|work=[[Kerala Kaumudi]]|location=Thiruvanathapuram|language=en-IN}}</ref>
|--bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| colspan="2" | Somanath is known for his contributions to launch vehicle design, particularly in the areas of launch vehicle systems engineering, structural design, structural dynamics, and pyrotechnics.<ref name=isro-215>{{Cite web|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/update/01-jun-2015/new-directors-three-major-isro-centres-three-major-isro-centres-have-new|title=New Directors for Three Major ISRO Centres: Three major ISRO Centres have new Directors from today.|date=1 June 2015|website=www.isro.gov.in|access-date=2022-01-13|archive-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123072311/https://www.isro.gov.in/update/01-jun-2015/new-directors-three-major-isro-centres-three-major-isro-centres-have-new|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/s-somnath-takes-charge-as-vikram-sarabhai-space-centres-director/articleshow/62609273.cms|title=S Somnath takes charge as Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre's director|date=January 22, 2018|first=Laxmi|last=Prasanna |website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2022-01-13}}</ref> He also served as the Director of [[Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre]], Thiruvananthapuram and <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/somanath-takes-charge-as-vssc-director-1151719-2018-01-22|title=Somanath takes charge as VSSC director|date=22 January 2018|website=www.indiatoday.in|access-date=2022-01-13}}</ref> Director of [[Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre]], Thiruvananthapuram.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/somanath-takes-charge-as-vssc-director-118012201055_1.html|title=Somanath takes charge as VSSC director|date=22 January 2018|newspaper=Business Standard India|access-date=2022-01-13|agency=Press Trust of India }}</ref> He was associated with the [[PSLV]] project and was the project director of [[GSLV Mk III]] in 2010. In his tenure in 2023, India successfully launched Chandrayan-3 and successfully made a soft landing in the South Pole making it the first country to make a successful soft landing in the South Pole.<ref name=isro-215/>
|-
! rowspan="2"; data-sort-type=number | 11
| rowspan="2" | [[File:DrVNarayanan ISROHQ 15012025.png|200px]]
| rowspan="2" | [[V. Narayanan (engineer)|V. Narayanan]] {{small|(1964– )}}
|{{dts|14 January 2025}}
|''Incumbent''
| rowspan="2" data-sort-value="349" | {{age in years and days|2025|01|14}}
| rowspan="2" |
|--bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| colspan="2" | V. Narayanan is known for his contributions to launch vehicle engine, particularly in the areas of launch vehicle engine engineering.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Chethan |date=7 January 2025 |title=V Narayanan Appointed New ISRO Chairman |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/v-narayanan-appointed-new-isro-chairman/articleshow/117033478.cms |work=The Times of India}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=8 January 2025 |title=V Narayanan: The Rocket Scientist who Will Lead ISRO into its Next Phase: 10 Facts |url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/people/v-narayanan-the-rocket-scientist-who-will-lead-isro-into-its-next-phase-10-things-to-know-about-new-isro-chief-11736301472974.html |work=Livemint}}</ref>
|}

== See also ==
*[[Homi J. Bhabha]]
*[[Sriharikota]]

== Notes and references ==
=== References ===
{{reflist}}

=== Notes ===
{{notelist}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20141026112226/http://www.isro.org/Ourchairman/Former/drkkasturirangan.aspx List of ISRO Chairman]

{{Indian space programme}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chairman Of The Indian Space Research Organisation}}
[[Category:Space programme of India]]
[[Category:ISRO people|*chairmen]]

Chairperson of ISRO - Revision history

Palashkhanra73 at 13:04, 3 March 2026