The Government of India has announced Dr. V. Narayanan as the new Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary of the Department of Space. He will take charge on January 14, 2025, succeeding S. Somanath, whose term ends on the same day.

Dr. Narayanan’s appointment was confirmed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet in an order issued on January 7, 2025. He will serve as ISRO Chairman for a two-year term.

Who is V Narayanan?

Dr. V Narayanan is currently the head of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Valiamala. He has nearly 40 years of experience working on rocket and spacecraft engines, playing an important role in India’s space missions.

As the leader of LPSC, Dr. Narayanan guided the creation of the CE20 cryogenic engine, which is a key part of the GSLV Mk III rocket and an essential part of ISRO’s space projects. During his time, the team successfully built 183 liquid propulsion systems and power units used in various ISRO missions.

He has also made important contributions to projects like the Aditya spacecraft and GSLV Mk-III missions. His hard work has earned him top awards such as the Shri Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award from IIT Kharagpur.

With his deep knowledge and leadership, Dr. Narayanan is expected to bring even more success to ISRO’s space exploration plans.