New Delhi: Hari Kumar R has been appointed as Director (Research & Development) at Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a key public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal from the Department of Defence Production, as per an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday.
Kumar, who is currently serving as General Manager, Technology Planning at BEL, will now join the company’s Board of Directors and report directly to the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD). As Director (R&D), he will be responsible for steering BEL’s research and development strategy, advancing indigenous technology, and aligning the company’s innovation roadmap with India’s “Atma Nirbhar Bharat” self-reliance initiative.
The selection followed a rigorous process conducted by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB), which interviewed seven candidates on February 1, 2025. Hari Kumar R was selected based on his extensive experience and proven leadership in technology planning and product development at BEL.
An alumnus of the College of Engineering Trivandrum (B.Tech in Electronics & Communication, 1984–1989), Hari Kumar began his career at BEL and has served the company for several decades, contributing significantly to its growth in defence electronics and strategic technology planning.
In his new role, he will be tasked with formulating cutting-edge R&D strategies, monitoring global technology trends, and fostering innovation across BEL’s divisions to maintain its leadership in defence and electronics systems.
Among those interviewed for the prestigious post were senior officials from within BEL, including:
- Smt. Prabha Goyal, Executive Director, National Marketing, Delhi
- Shri Anoop Kumar Rai, Chief Scientist
- Smt. Rashmi Kathuria, GM, SCCS, GAD & Unit Head
- Shri Kappagantula Srinivas, GM & Unit Head
- Shri Giriraja Nandavaram, GM, DCCS
As well as - Smt. Shyamala Venkataraman, GM & Head, Corporate Technology Management, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
