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Vijay Kumar Saraswat, scientist and former DRDO chief has been named as the next chancellor of JNU by the HRD Ministry. He is a full-time member of NITI Aayog and will be replacing the ISRO chief, Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan.
Vijay Kumar Saraswat, scientist and former DRDO chief has been named as the next chancellor of JNU by the HRD Ministry. Though Saraswat is yet to receive official communication, his name has been finalised for the varsity’s top position, according to sources in the ministry.
About VK Saraswat
- He is a full-time member of NITI Aayog and will be replacing ISRO chief Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan whose five-year term ended on March 30
- Saraswat was conferred Padma Shri in 1998, Padma Bhusan in 2013 and had served as a chief scientific advisor to the Minister of Defence
- A PhD in combustion engineering, Saraswat played a very significant role in the development of the country’s first liquid propulsion engine — Devil
- He is also credited with the development of other rocket engines such as Prithvi, Dhanush and Prahaar
- As project director of Prithvi, Saraswat steered the design, development, production and induction of the first indigenous surface-to-surface missile system into the armed forces.
According to teachers in the university, the outgoing chancellor, Kasturirangan, showed much interest in language, literature and cultural studies. As per Indian Express report, as the Chancellor of JNU, Saraswat will discharge functions such as presiding over the convocation ceremony for awarding degrees. Apart from being a member of the JNU court, he will be the competent authority to sanction leave to the vice-chancellor.
He, however, will play little role in the day-to-day administration of the university.