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)

Positions held:
  • August 27, 2003
    onwards
Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha)
  • April 1994 to
    August 27, 2003
Chairman, Space Commission/Secretary, Department of Space, Government of India, Bangalore.
  • 1990 to
    March 94
Director, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore
  • 1986-89
Associate Director, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore.
  • 1984-86
Deputy Director, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore.
  • 1980-89
Project Director-IRS-1A, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore.
  • 1979-83
Project Director-Bhaskara-II, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore.
  • 1976-80
Project Director-Bhaskara-I, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore.
  • 1975-76
Project Engineer (Spacecraft)-Bhaskara-I, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore.
  • 1974-78
Head, Physics Group/Secretary, Aryabhata Project Management Board, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore.
  • 1971-73
Physicist, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore.
  • 1967-71
Research Associate, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.
  • 1963-67
Research Scholar, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.


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 87th Indian Science Congress (2000)

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

  • ‘4th 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)

Honours:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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) :

  • 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:

  • 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:

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

2000-2004       -            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

 

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