G. Madhavan Nair

G. Madhavan Nair
Nair (right) with A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, 2002
Born (1943-10-31) 31 October 1943 (age 80)
NationalityIndian
Alma mater
Known forIndian Space Program
ParentGopala Pillai (father) [1]
AwardsPadma Bhushan (1998)
Padma Vibhushan (2009)
Scientific career
FieldsRocket Technology and Electrical and Electronics Engineering
InstitutionsIndian Space Research Organisation
Bhabha Atomic Research Center
Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation
In office
1 September 2003 (2003-09-01) – 29 October 2009 (2009-10-29)
Preceded byKrishnaswamy Kasturirangan
Succeeded byKoppillil Radhakrishnan

G. Madhavan Nair (born 31 October 1943) is an Indian space scientist and a former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, and Secretary to the Department of Space, Government of India. His tenure saw commencement of Indian Human Spaceflight Programme and launch of extraterrestrial exploration mission Chandrayaan-I.

He was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Technology Patna until he stepped down due to his involvement in a controversial deal relating to sale of radio spectrum bandwidth involving Antrix.[2] He was subsequently barred from holding any private position.

Nair was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour, on 26 January 2009.[3][4]

  1. ^ archive, From our online (15 May 2012). "The other side of the moon". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Former ISRO chief steps down from IIT-Patna board". Times of India.
  3. ^ "Padma Vibhushan for Kakodkar, Madhavan Nair, Nirmala". The Hindu. 26 January 2009. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  4. ^ "The other side of the moon". The New Indian Express. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2024.