A. S. Kiran Kumar
Former Chairman, ISRO, Bengaluru
A. S. Kiran Kumar has served as Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation, during 2015-2018. He is currently Member of the Space Commission (GoI). He has steered the implementation of the application-oriented Indian Space Programme, which has facilitated rapid development of the country in many important spheres of earth observation, communication, navigation, meteorology and space science, as well as the development of indigenous launch vehicles and related technologies for providing assured access to space. Further, his role in the success of Chandrayaan missions and Mars Orbiter Mission has been significant. He was conferred Padma Shri by the President of India in 2014, Rajyostava Award by the Government of Karnataka in 2015, 2018 International von Karman Wings Award instituted by the Aerospace Historical Society, together with the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories at the California nstitute of Technology, in 2018 and the Chevalier de l’Ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur – the highest civilian honour by the Government of France in 2019.
Session 1E: Public lecture
Raghavan Varadarajan
India’s space programme: Challenges
India’s space programme has grown from humble beginnings into a globally recognized model of self-reliance, innovation, and service to societal needs. In this lecture, Shri A. S. Kiran Kumar will delve into the current and emerging challenges — ranging from technological advancements, global competition, climate resilience, and commercial space, to the need for sustained investment in research and capacity building. Drawing from his rich experience at the helm of ISRO, the talk will provide valuable insights into the strategic direction and preparedness required to sustain and expand India’s space leadership in a rapidly evolving landscape.