DR.K.KASTURIRANGAN M.Sc., Ph.D., F.A.Sc., F.N.A.
Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha)

Date of birth : October 24, 1940, Ernakulam (Kerala), India

Qualifications:

B.Sc. with Honours (Physics), 1961, Bombay University

M.Sc. (Physics), 1963, Bombay University with specialization in Electronics

Ph.D. (Astronomy & Astrophysics), 1971, Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)

• April, 2004
  onwards

• August 27, 2003
  onwards

• April 1994 to
  August 27, 2003

• 1990 to
  March 94

• 1986-89

• 1984-86

• 1980-89

• 1979-83

• 1976-80

• 1975-76

• 1974-78

• 1971-73

• 1967-71

• 1963-67

National Recognition:

• Padma Vibhushan (2000)

• Padma Bhushan (1992).

• Padma Shri (1982).

Awards:

• Shri.Hari Om Ashram Dr.Vikram Sarabhai Prerit Award (1981).

• Award of Intercosmos Council of the Soviet Academy of Sciences (1981).

• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Engineering Sciences (1983).

• Shri.Om Prakash Bhasin Foundation Award (1988).

• Award of the Institution of Engineers (India), Karnataka (1992).

• Dr.Y.Nayudamma Memorial Award (1995).

• Dr.K.R.Ramanathan Memorial Gold Medal for 1995 conferred by Indian Geo-Physical Union (1995).

• FIE Foundation's 1995 National Award (1996).

• G.P.Chatterjee Memorial Award (1997) of  ISCA

• M.P.Birla Memorial Award in Astronomy  (1997).

• Goyal Award conferred by Goyal Foundation (1997)

• Biren Roy Memorial Lecture Medal of the Indian Physical Society, Calcutta (1998).

• Outstanding Achievement in Indigenisation Award of the Lakshmikanthammal Education Trust, Chennai (1999)

• Vidya Ratna National Award of Subbaram Trust, Bangalore (1999)

• Shri Murli M.Chugani Memorial Award for Excellence in Applied Physics of Indian Physics Association (1999)

• H.K.Firodia Award for Excellence in Science & Technology by H.K.Firodia Memorial Foundation (1999)

• IGU Millenium Award by Indian Geophysical Union (1999)

• M.N.Saha Birth Centenary Award for 1999-2000 conferred by 87^th Indian Science Congress (2000)

• ‘Aryabhata Medal  Award  2000’  conferred  by  Indian National  Science Academy,   Calcutta (2001)

• ‘4^th Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati National Eminence Award‘ by South Indian Education Society, Mumbai on 28/12/2001(2001)

• International Collaboration Accomplishment Award 2001', conferred by International Society for Air Breathing Engines (ISOABE) , Bangalore on (2001)

• 'Rathindhra Puraskar' for the year 1999 by Visvabharati, Santiniketan (2002)

• Award of "Officer of the Legion d'honneur", the highest decoration given by the Government of France (2002)

• "V.Krishnamurthy Award for Excellence" conferred by Centre for Organisation Development, Hyderabad (2002)

• "G.M.Modi Award" for outstanding contribution in innovative Science, conferred by Gujarmal Modi Science foundation, New Delhi (2002)

• ‘Bhoovigyan Ratna Award’ from Bhoovigyan Vikas Foundation, New Delhi (2002)

• 8th National Science & Technology Award for Excellence by the Jeppiaar Educational Trust, Chennai (2003)

• ‘6th Ram Mohan Puraskar 2003’ awarded by Ram Mohan Mission, Calcutta (2003)

• ‘Asutosh Mookerjee Memorial Award’ by the Indian Science Congress, Chandigarh (2004)

• ‘Man of the Year’ award by the Centenarian Trust, Chennai (2004)

• ‘Prof. M.N.Saha Memorial Lecture Medal ‘of the National Academy of Sciences of India, Jaipur (2004)

• ‘Life Time Contribution Award in Engineering’ for 2004 by Indian National Academy of Engineering, Delhi (2004)

• ‘ISPRS Brock Medal’ instituted jointly by ISPRS and ASPRS, Istanbul, Turkey (2004)

• Allan D Emil Memorial Award of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), Vancouver, Canada (2004)

• ‘Balvantbhai Parekh Gold Medal 2005’ for life-time Achievements in Space Science by The Indian Planetary Society, Mumbai (2005)

• ‘Aryabhata Award 2003’ by Astronautical Society of India (2005)

• ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ of the Asia-Pacific Satellite communications Council, Singapore (2005)

• ‘Lakshmipat Singhania - IIM Lucknow National Leadership Award 2006’ by Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (2006)

• The Jewel of Ruia Award by Ruia College Alumni Association, Shikshana Prasaraka Mandali’s Ramnarain Ruia College, Dec. 2007

• Theodore Von Karman Award by International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), France (2007)

• Maharana Udai Singh Award by Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation in Udaipur, March 2, 2008

• Rajayogindra Award, Maharaja of Mysore, Mysore, 18 July 2008

• Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Gold Medal, 96th Indian Science Congress, The Indian Science Congress Association, 3 January 2009, Shillong

• Shasthra Bhooshan Award by His Highness Pazhassi Raja Charitable Trust, Kerala, 27 February 2009

• Prof Y. T. Thathachari Lifetime Achievement Award by Bhramara Trust of Prof. Y T Thathachari and Smt. Madhuri Thathachari of Mysore on March 14, 2009

Honours:

• D.Sc (Honoris Causa) conferred by Banaras Hindu University (1994)

• D.Sc (Honorary Degree) conferred by Andhra University (1995)

• D.Sc (Honoris Causa) conferred by S.V.University, Tirupati (1996)

• D.Sc (Honoris Causa) conferred by Sri Krishna Devaraya University, Ananthpur (1998)

• D.Sc (Honoris Causa) conferred by Anna University, Chennai (1998)

• D.Sc (Honoris Causa) conferred by Roorkee University, Roorkee (1999)

• D.Sc (Honoris Causa) conferred by IIT, Bombay (2000)

• D.Sc (Honoris Causa) conferred by Chatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur (2000)

• D.Sc (Honoris Causa) conferred by Gurunanak Dev University, Amritsar (2001)

• D.Sc (Honoris Causa) conferred by University of Calcutta (2002)

• D.Sc (Honoris Causa) conferred by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi (2003)

• D.Sc (Honoris Causa) conferred by Panjab University, Chandigarh (2003)

• D.Sc (Honoris Causa) conferred by Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belgaum (2004)

• D.Sc (Honoris Causa) conferred by Alagappa University, Karaikudi (2006)

• D.Sc (Honoris Causa) conferred by Mysore University, Mysore (2007)

• D.Sc (Honoris Causa) conferred by SRM University , Chennai (2008)

Fellowships/Memberships (National) :

• Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences (FASc).

• Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (FNA).

• Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences of India (FNASc).

• Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (FNAE).

• Fellow of the Astronautical Society of India (ASI)

• Fellow of the National Telematics Forum (NTF)

• Fellow of Indian Meteorological Society (IMS)

• Founder Member of the Astronomical Society of India (ASI).

• Distinguished Fellow of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommuncation Engineers (IETE).

• Honorary Fellow, Aeronautical Society of India (ASI)

• Honorary Fellow, Kerala Academy of Sciences (KAS)

• Honorary Fellow, Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IICE)

• Life Member, Indian Physics Association (IPA).

• Life Member, Indian Society of Remote Sensing (ISRS)

• Life Member, Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA)

Fellowships/Memberships (International) :

• Member, India-China Eminent Persons’ Group, Constituted by the Indian Parliament

• President, India-Cyprus Parliamentary Friendship Group

• Trustee, Nehru Trust for Cambridge University (2007)

• Academician of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Vatican City (2006)

• Honorary Fellow, Cardiff University, UK (since 2006)

• Fellow of the Third World Academy of Sciences (since 1996).

• Member of the International Academy of Astronautics (since 1985).

• Member of the International Astronomical Union (since 1982).

Special Positions:

• 2001 onwards - Honorary Patron of the South Indian Education Society, Mumbai

• 1997 onwards  - Honorary Professor - Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad

• 1996 onwards  - Honorary Professor for Space Science and Applications, College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai

• 1996 onwards  - Honorary Professor, S.V.University, Tirupati.

• 1995 onwards  - Senior Associate, National Institute of Advanced  Studies, Bangalore.

• 1995 onwards for 5 years - Honorary Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore.

Special Roles:

• Sept. 2008 onwards Chairman, Karnataka Knowledge Commission, Bangalore

• Sept. 2008 onwards Member, Karnataka Vision 2020

• Sept 2008 onwards Member, Advisory Committee, Indian Science News Association, Kolkata

• 2007 onwards Independent Director, Brigade Group, Bangalore

• 2007-2011 Member, General Body, Birla Institute of Tech. & Sci. Pilani, Rajasthan

• 2007 onwards - Member, Governing Board, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore

• 2005-2006 - President, Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE)

• 2004 onwards - Chairman, Council of Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

• Jan.-Feb. 2004 and Aug. 2004 onwards Member, Committee on Energy, Indian Parliament

• 2004 onwards - Chairman, Governing Council of Aryabhata Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital

• 2004 onwards- Member, Economic Policy and Reforms Council, constituted by Government of Rajasthan

• 2003 Nov. onwards Member, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), GOI

• 2002-2003   -            General President, Indian Science Congress 2002-2003

• 2001-2003   -            President, Indian Academy of Sciences

• 2001-2003   -            Member, Board of Governors of IIT, Roorkee

• 2000-2005 - Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Madras

• 2000-2010   -            Chairman, Council of Raman Research Institute (RRI)

• 2000-2002   -            Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Madras

• 2000 -            Ex-officio Member, Scientific Advisory Committee to Cabinet

• 2000 -            Chairperson, Research Council of National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore

• 1998-2000   -           Vice President, Indian Academy of Sciences

• 1995-2003 - Chairman, Governing Body of the United Nations Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia-Pacific, India.

Important Roles in International Bodies:

• Member, International Academy of Astronautics Sub-Committee on Mars Exploration (1992-1993).

• Indian Representative,  IEEE Space Panel ( 1992).

• Chairman, COSPAR Panel on Space Research in Developing Countries (1994-2000).

• Member, COSPAR Bureau (1994 onwards).

• Chairman, International Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) (1997-1998).

• Chairman, Governing Body of the United Nations Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (since 1995).

• Chairman, Senior Officials Committee of UN-ESCAP (1999-2000) meet leading to 'Delhi Declaration'

• Member, Board of Trustees of the International Academy of Astronautics, Paris

• Member, Advisory Board of International Space University (ISU), Strassbourg, France

General:

• Publications - more than 200 papers, both in National and International journals.

• Edited six books.

• Chairman/Member of a number of National Committees, Research Institutions and other bodies