5 Technical Advisory Board
Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat
Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat is Honorary Chairman of the Technical Advisory Board. He is India’s most eminent defence scientist-administrator with over four decades of leadership across defence research, strategic technology development, and national science policy. He spearheaded indigenous development of missile systems PRITHVI, DHANUSH, PRAHAR, AGNI-V and interceptor missiles for ballistic missile defence and set up national missile defence infrastructure. His expertise extends beyond missiles to building key nuclear arsenal infrastructure. In the aeronautical field, he steered LCA TEJAS to IAF induction while leading AMCA production planning. Post-DRDO, as Member S&T at NITI Aayog for more than a decade, he drove national policy on critical and emerging technologies namely Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Technology, Cyber Physical Systems, Small Modular Nuclear Reactors and technologies for Energy Security with focus on advanced materials, strategic supply chains and sustainable development. A recipient of the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and numerous other awards, and a Fellow of INAE, INSA, and other leading scientific bodies, he currently serves as Chancellor of Graphic Era University; Chairman of Quantum Ecosystems and Technology Council of India and Prof. CR Rao AIMSCS, Hyderabad and mentors at IIT Hyderabad and IIT Roorkee. Beyond his scientific career, he has held numerous leadership roles including serving as Member of the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology & Innovation Committee; Chancellor of JNU; Chairman of CSIR’s Research Council and its constituent laboratories; President of TIFAC and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Trivandrum. He also chaired the Research Councils of IOCL, NTPC, and BHEL, among other government institutions. In recognition of his contributions to science and technology research, more than 25 Indian universities have conferred Honoris Causa doctorates upon him.
Dr. S. C. Chetal
Dr. S.C. Chetal served the Department of Atomic Energy at Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research for about 42 years and from where he superannuated as Director of the Centre in January 2013. Has made outstanding contributions to indigenous 500MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor. Was subsequently Mission Director of 800MW R&D project on Advanced Ultra Supercritical, and senior Adviser R&D in BHEL. Has rare expertise in design and materials technology
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Jha
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Jha as Chairman & Managing Director of MIDHANI, a premier Public Sector Enterprise in advanced materials and alloys, hscaled both production capacity and technological depth, enabling the organization to meet the exacting material requirements of India's most critical strategic programs: ISRO's launch vehicles (PSLV, GSLV, Gaganyaan), the Tejas fighter aircraft, Kaveri and Small Turbofan engines, AKASH and ASTRA missile systems, nuclear power reactors, and Advanced Ultra-Supercritical thermal power plants. On the technology frontier, he spearheaded advances in the melting of rare earth alloys, superalloys, and titanium alloys, and has been actively associated with startups and R&D facilities engaged in the production of NdFeB alloys for EV, wind energy, electronics, and other high tech. industries. A respected voice in India's scientific community, Dr. Jha has led several professional bodies including the Indian Institute of Metals, the Indian Non-Destructive Testing Society, and as President of the Magnetics Society of India, under whose leadership numerous national technical programmes were conducted.
Dr. Neeraj Sinha
| Dr. Neeraj Sinha (Hon. Member) superannuated after over 36 years of service in the Government of India. Was Adviser/ Joint Secretary, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India (PSA’s Office) wherein he was involved in the indigenous development and deployment of cutting-edge technologies for nation building and has played key roles in Niti Ayog and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. |