New Delhi: In a key move, the central government has appointed V Narayanan as the new Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary of the Department of Space for a tenure of two years. The announcement was made on Tuesday, and Narayanan will officially take charge on January 14, succeeding S. Somanath, whose term concludes on the same day.
Currently serving as the Director of the Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC) at ISRO, Narayanan has a long and distinguished career within the organization. He also serves as the Chairman of both the LPSC-IPRC Co-ordination Committee and the Programme Management Council for Space Transportation Systems.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued an order confirming the appointment, which read, “The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Shri V Narayanan, Director, Liquid Propulsion System Centre, Valiamala as Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, Space Commission for a period of two years with effect from 14.01.2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.”
With nearly four decades of experience, Dr. Narayanan has held several prominent positions at ISRO and is a renowned expert in rocket and spacecraft propulsion, playing a pivotal role in advancing India’s space capabilities.
This new appointment marks a significant leadership transition at ISRO, paving the way for continued advancements in India’s space exploration and satellite technology.