Ex-ISRO chief, National Education Policy architect, K Kasturirangan dies at 84 in Bengaluru | Bengaluru News

BENGALURU: Former Isro chairman K Kasturirangan, 85, who had donned many hats in his lengthy profession as a scientist and administrator breathed his final at 10.43am at his residence in Bengaluru, on Friday (April 25, 2025).
He had been unwell for a number of months. As per Isro, his physique might be saved in RRI for paying final respects on Sunday (April 27) from 10am to 12pm.

His well being significantly suffered after a coronary heart assault in Sri Lanka on July 10, 2023, when he was airlifted to Bengaluru’s Narayana Hrudayalaya hospital for remedy.
His contributions to the Indian house programme has been immense: He oversaw actions regarding India’s INSAT-2, a brand new technology communication satellite tv for pc and two distant sensing satellites. Much previous to this, he was the challenge director of India’s first two experimental satellites, Bhaskara-I and II. He served as Isro chairman for 9 lengthy years earlier than being changed by Madhavan Nair in August 2003.
According to Isro: “Further, he has also overseen the design, development and launching of the world’s best civilian satellites, IRS-1C and 1D, realisation of the second generation and initiation of third generation INSAT satellites, besides launching ocean observation satellites IRS-P3/P4. These efforts have put India as a pre-eminent space-faring nation among the handful of six countries that have major space programmes.”
As an Astrophysicist, Kasturirangan’s curiosity included analysis in excessive power X-ray and gamma ray astronomy in addition to optical astronomy. Isro says he has made in depth and vital contributions to research of Cosmic x-ray sources, celestial gamma-ray and impact of cosmic x-rays in the decrease ambiance.
Kasturirangan was a member of a number of vital scientific academies, each inside India and overseas. Born on October 24, 1940, at Ernakulam to C M Krishnaswamy Iyer and Visalakshi, Kasturirangan accomplished his Bachelor of Science with honours and Master of Science levels in Physics from Bombay University and acquired his doctorate diploma in Experimental High Energy Astronomy in 1971 working at the Physical (*84*) Laboratory, Ahmedabad.
“Under his leadership as Chairman, Isro, the space programme witnessed several major milestones including the successful launching and operationalisation of the India’s prestigious launch vehicle, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and more recently, the first successful flight testing of the all important Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV),” in accordance with Isro.
After superannuating from Isro, Kasturirangan grew to become a Rajya Sabha member, served as chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, chairman of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission and director of National Institute of Advanced Studies. He was additionally a member of the now defunct Planning Commission of India.
More just lately he was instrumental in formulating India’s new schooling coverage, as chairman of the National Education Policy (NEP) committee. Among different issues, the federal government had additionally commissioned a report from a group led by him on the Western Ghats, suggestions from the place, nonetheless, not but been applied.
Domestically, he was a fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy, National Academy of Sciences of India, Indian National Academy of Engineering, Astronautical Society of India, National Telematics Forum, The Indian Meteorological Society and many others, whereas he was additionally a member of the International Astronomical Union and the International Academy of Astronautics and is a member of its Board of Trustees.
“He has chaired some of the prestigious international committees, such as, the International Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), Panel for Space Research in Developing countries of COSPAR/ICSU, and the committee meeting at senior official level of UN-ESCAP, that led to the adoption of the “Delhi Declaration” by the Ministers of the region (1999-2000),” in accordance with Isro.
Further, he was the chairman of the Governing Board of the UN Centre for Space Science & Technology Education (UN-CSSTE), among the many Board of Governors of IIT Chennai, member of the Governing Council of the Raman (*84*) Institute and (*84*) Council of the National Aerospace Laboratory.
While he has gained a number of awards, together with the celebrated Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award in Engineering, the federal government has recognised his contributions by way of Padma Vibhushan. He has printed greater than 240 papers in the areas of astronomy, house science and functions, and has edited six books.