Marta694059068 at 23:40, 23 February 2026

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{{Short description|Indian aerospace engineer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Indian name|Sivan|Kailasavadivoo}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = K. Sivan
| image = K._Sivan.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Official portrait
| office1 = 9th [[Chairperson of ISRO|Chairman of ISRO]]
| term_start1 = {{Start date|2018|01|15|df=yes}}
| term_end1 = {{End date|2022|01|14|df=yes}}
| predecessor1 = [[A. S. Kiran Kumar]]
| successor1 = [[S. Somanath]]
| office2 = 12th Director of [[Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre]]
| term_start2 = 2015
| term_end2 = 2018
| predecessor2 = [[Madhavan Chandradathan|M. C. Dathan]]
| successor2 = [[S. Somanath]]
| birth_name = Kailasavadivoo Sivan
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|04|14|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Keezha Sarakkalvilai|Mela Sarakkalvilai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| education = {{Plainlist|
* [[Madurai Kamaraj University]] ([[B.Sc.]])
* [[Madras Institute of Technology]] ([[B.Tech.]])
* [[Indian Institute of Science|IISc Bengaluru]] ([[Master of Engineering|M.E.]])
* [[IIT Bombay]] ([[Ph.D.]]) }}
| other_names =
| years_active =
| known_for =
| signature =
| office =
}}

'''Kailasavadivu Sivan''' (born 14 April 1957) is an Indian [[aerospace engineer]] who served as the [[Department of Space|secretary of the Department of Space]] and [[Chairperson of ISRO|chairman of ISRO]] and Space Commission.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/renowned-scientist-sivan-k-named-new-isro-chairman/articleshow/62446296.cms | title=Renowned scientist Sivan K named new ISRO chairman | newspaper=[[The Times of India]] | date=10 January 2018 | access-date=10 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sivan-k-named-new-isro-chairman/articleshow/62446648.cms | title=Sivan K named new ISRO chairman | newspaper=[[The Economic Times]] | date=10 January 2018 | access-date=10 January 2018}}</ref> He has previously served as the director of the [[Vikram Sarabhai Space Center]] and the [[Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Dr. Sivan takes over as LPSC director|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/dr-sivan-takes-over-as-lpsc-director/article6167037.ece|access-date=28 May 2016|work=The Hindu|date=2 July 2014}}</ref>

==Early life==
Sivan was born in Sarakkalvilai, near [[Nagercoil]] in [[Kanyakumari district]] of [[Tamil Nadu]] state of India.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/a-humble-farmers-son-to-isros-rocket-man-incredible-journey-of-k-sivan/articleshow/71022596.cms|title=A humble farmer's son to Isro's 'Rocket Man': Incredible journey of K Sivan|website=[[The Times of India]] |date=7 September 2019 }}</ref> His parents are Kailasavadivu and mother Chellam.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/science/science/120118/fighting-odds-once-mango-trader-now-isro-chairman.html|title=Fighting odds: Once mango trader now Isro chairman|last=Raman|first=A. Ragu|date=2018-01-12|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref>

== Education ==
Sivan is the son of a mango farmer and studied in a [[Tamil Language|Tamil]] medium Government school in Mela Sarakkalvilai Village and later in [[Vallan Kumaran Vilai|Vallankumaranvilai]], in [[Kanyakumari district]]. He is the first graduate from his family.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/k-sivan-a-humble-farmers-sons-journey-to-indian-space-agency-top-job/articleshow/62461458.cms | title=K Sivan: A humble farmer's son's journey to Indian Space agency top job | newspaper=[[The Times of India]] | date=11 January 2018 | accessdate=11 January 2018}}</ref> Later Sivan graduated with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from [[Madras Institute of Technology]] in 1980. He then got a master's degree in [[aerospace engineering]] from the [[Indian Institute of Science]], [[Bangalore]] in 1982, and started working in ISRO.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-17 |title=Chairman ISRO, Secretary DOS - ISRO |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/chairman-isro-secretary-dos |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817225051/https://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/chairman-isro-secretary-dos |archive-date=2019-08-17 |access-date=2022-09-03 }}</ref> He earned a [[Doctorate|doctoral degree]] in aerospace engineering from the [[Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay]] in 2006. He is a Fellow of the [[Indian National Academy of Engineering]], the [[Aeronautical Society of India]] and the Systems Society of India.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/from-farmer-s-son-to-isro-chief-lesser-known-accomplishments-of-k-sivan-1596648-2019-09-07|title=From farmer's son to Isro chief: Lesser known accomplishments of K Sivan|newspaper=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-10-31|agency=Ist}}</ref> He was conferred Doctor of Science (''Honoris Causa'') from [[Sathyabama University]], Chennai in April 2014.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 January 2018 |title=Who is K. Sivan? |url=http://www.livemint.com/Science/iPyhurrfzKQCTru7K871AI/Who-is-K-Sivan.html |accessdate=22 January 2018 |work=Sharan Poovanna |publisher=Livemint}}</ref>

== Career ==
Sivan worked on the design and development of launch vehicles for Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-09 |title=‘He’s like me, rose from poverty to the top’: Former ISRO chief K Sivan on new chairman V Narayanan |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/former-isro-chairman-k-sivan-on-v-narayanan-9767311/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Sivan joined ISRO in 1982 to participate on the [[Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle|Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)]] Project. Sivan played a major role in reviving the GSLV programme. The 6D trajectory simulation software SITARA was developed under the guidance of Sivan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BRIEF BIO-DATA OF DR. K. SIVAN |url=https://convocation.iiita.ac.in/pdf/drksivan.pdf}}</ref> He was appointed the director of ISRO's [[Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre]] on 2 July 2014.<ref>{{cite news|author=|title=New Directors at ISRO centres|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/new-directors-at-isro-centres/article6167830.ece|access-date=2 July 2014|publisher=The Hindu|date=2 July 2014}}</ref> On 1 June 2015, he became the director of [[Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/science/new-directors-for-major-isro-centres/article7271425.ece |title=New directors for major ISRO centres|date=January 24, 2018|publisher=The Hindu BusinessLine|access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>

Sivan was appointed the chief of ISRO in January 2018 and he assumed office on 15 January.<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 |accessdate=28 October 2018 |work=The Hindu |date=16 January 2018 |language=en-IN}}</ref> Under his chairmanship, ISRO launched [[Chandrayaan-2]], the second mission to the Moon on 22 July 2019, of which ''Vikram'' lander and the ''[[Pragyan (Chandrayaan-2)|Pragyan]]'' rover crashed; the orbiter was not affected and is still orbiting the Moon as of September 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chandrayaan-2: Success in India's second attempt at launching Moon mission |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/22/asia/india-space-ambitions-moon-launch-intl-hnk/index.html}}</ref>

On 30 December 2020, his chairmanship was extended by a year to January 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Narasimhan |first=TE |title=Isro chairman K Sivan gets one-year extension till January 2022 |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/government-extends-isro-chief-k-sivan-s-tensure-till-january-2022-120123001352_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721230418/https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/government-extends-isro-chief-k-sivan-s-tensure-till-january-2022-120123001352_1.html |archive-date=21 July 2024 |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.business-standard.com |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref> His earlier tenure was up to January 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|title=ISRO chief K Sivan gets extension till January 2022, ensures continuity in opening up space sector|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/isro-chief-k-sivan-gets-extension-till-january-2022-ensures-continuity-in-opening-up-space-sector/articleshow/80031427.cms|access-date=2020-12-31}}</ref>

On 25 January 2021, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has registered a complaint against Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space (DoS), K Sivan, over allegations of irregularities in recruiting his son in ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram, by bypassing norms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ISRO top brass pushed Sivan junior's recruitment: Plaint |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/feb/13/isro-top-brass-pushed-sivan-juniors-recruitment-plaint-2263366.html |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=The New Indian Express|date=13 February 2021 }}</ref>

Sivan has been appointed the chairman of the Board of Governors at the Indian Institute of Technology, Indore. He will replace Deepak B P, whose term ended on 21 August 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Indore |first=Press Trust of India |title=Ex-ISRO chief Dr K Sivan is now chairman of IIT Indore's board of governors |url=https://www.business-standard.com/education/news/ex-isro-chief-dr-k-sivan-is-now-chairman-of-iit-indore-s-board-of-governors-123083101028_1.html |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=Business Standard}}</ref>

==Awards==
* [[He got Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award]], 2019.<ref name="apjkalam award">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/isro-chairman-sivan-gets-apj-abdul-kalam-award/article29099981.ece |title=ISRO Chairman Sivan gets A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award |date=2019-08-15 |newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>
* [[IEEE Simon Ramo Medal]], shared with [[B. N. Suresh|Byrana N. Suresh]], 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://twitter.com/isro/status/1310909186549542914?lang=en|title=ISRO on Twitter: "Dr B N Suresh and Dr. K Sivan were awarded the prestigious IEEE 'Simon Ramo Medal' 2020 for their exemplary work in the field of systems engineering.}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/chairman-isro-secretary-dos ISRO biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113185004/https://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/chairman-isro-secretary-dos |date=13 January 2022 }}

{{s-start}}
{{s-gov}}
{{s-bef|before=[[A. S. Kiran Kumar]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chairman of the ISRO]]|years=2018 - 2022}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[S. Somanath]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Madhavan Chandradathan]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Director, [[VSSC]]|years=2015 - 2018}}
{{end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sivan, Kailasavadivoo}}
[[Category:ISRO people]]
[[Category:Scientists from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian aerospace engineers]]
[[Category:Indian Institute of Science alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian engineers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian space scientists]]
[[Category:Engineers from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:People from Kanyakumari district]]
[[Category:Madras Institute of Technology alumni]]
[[Category:IIT Bombay alumni]]
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Rajyotsava Award 2022]]

K. Sivan - Revision history

Marta694059068 at 23:40, 23 February 2026