G. Madhavan Nair

G. Madhavan Nair (born 31 October 1943) is an Indian space scientist and a former chairman of ISRO, and Secretary to the Department of Space, Government of India. His tenure saw commencement of Indian Human Spaceflight Programme and launch of extraterrestrial exploration mission Chandrayaan-I.

He was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Technology Patna until he stepped down due to his involvement in a controversial deal relating to sale of radio spectrum bandwidth involving Antrix. He was subsequently barred from holding any private position.

Nair was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour, on 26 January 2009.

Early life Madhavan was born in Kulasekharam, Travancore State, (now in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu), India. When Kanyakumari district became part of Tamil Nadu, Madhavan Nair’s father Gopala Pillai moved to Thiruvananthapuram. He graduated with a B.Sc. in Engineering (1966) from College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram, of the University of Kerala with specialization in Electronics & Communication Engineering. After his graduation, Nair attended a training program at the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) Training School, Mumbai.

As Director of ISRO's largest R & D Centre, the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, he also saw India's Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) successfully come to fruition. Further, as Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre of ISRO, he played a central role in the design and development of the crucial cryogenic engine for GSLV. A list of Positions held before is listed below:

2010–? Chairman, Centre for Management Development, Thiruvananthapuram 2003–2009 Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation, Bangalore 1999–2003 Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram 1995–1999 Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Thiruvananthapuram 1994–1996 Programme Director, ILVP, VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram 1988–1995 Project Director, PSLV, Thiruvananthapuram 1984–1988 Associate Project Director, PSLV, Thiruvananthapuram 1980–1984 Head, Electronics Systems, VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram 1974–1980 Project Engineer, SLV-3 Project, Thiruvananthapuram 1972–1974 Project Manager, Telecommand System, VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram 1967–1972 Head, Payload Integration Section, TERLS, Thiruvananthapuram

As Chairman of ISRO As the Chairman of Indian Space Research Organization, Nair is entrusted with the responsibility for the development of space technology and its application to national development. During his tenure as Chairman, ISRO/Secretary, DOS, twenty seven successful missions were accomplished i.e., INSAT-3E, Resourcesat-1, Edusat, Cartosat-1, Hamsat-1, INSAT-4A, PSLV-C5, GSLV-F01, PSLV-C6, Cartosat-2, INSAT-4B, SRE-1, PSLV-C7, PSLV-C8, GSLV-F04, INSAT-4CR, PSLV-C10, Cartosat-2A, IMS-1, PSLV-C9, Chandrayaan-1, PSLV-C11, PSLV-C12, RISAT-2, ANUSAT, PSLV-C14 and Ocensat-2. He has taken initiatives towards development of futuristic technologies to enhance the space systems capabilities as well as to reduce the cost of access to space. Nair has given major thrust for evolving application programmes such as tele-education and telemedicine for meeting the needs of society at large. As Chairman Space Commission, Nair is responsible for chalking out the future plan for space research in the country. Major thrust are in scientific exploration of outer space using the Astrosat and Chandrayaan (Moon) missions apart from implementing schemes for telemedicine, tele-education and disaster management support systems. He is also providing guidance and leadership in undertaking new technology developments related to launch vehicle, spacecraft for communication, remote sensing and applications programmes to meet societal needs.

In the international arena, Nair has led the Indian delegations for bilateral cooperation and negotiations with many Space Agencies and Countries, specially with France, Russia, Brazil, Israel, etc., and has been instrumental in working out mutually beneficial international cooperative agreements. Nair has led the Indian delegation to the S&T Sub-Committee of United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS) since 1998.

His main focus has always been to achieve self-reliance in the high technology areas and to bring the benefits of space technology to India's development, specially targeting the needs of the rural and poor sections of society.

Establishment of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology G. Madhavan Nair initiated and implemented the establishment of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram. There were some objections and impediments in its establishment.

Controversies in S-Band Devas Scam The contract signed between Antrix Corporation and Devas Multimedia Private Limited on 28 January 2005 during Nair's tenure as chairman of ISRO and secretary of Department of Space, was controversial. As a consequence of it, on 25 January 2012 he was barred from holding any government jobs. , he was still awaiting trial.

Nair was General President of the 97th Indian Science Congress 2009-2010 and first chairman of the board of governors of Indian Institute of Technology Patna.

Awards Nair has won several awards such as National Aeronautical Award, FIE Foundation's Award, Shri Om Prakash Bhasin Award, Swadeshi Sastra Puraskar Award, Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Gold Medal of the Indian Science Congress Association, Dr.Yelavarthy Nayudamma Memorial Award-2004, HK Firodia Award-2005, Fifth "Shri Balvantbhai Parekh Award", Lokmanya Tilak Award from Tilak Smarak Trust, "Sree Chithira Thirunal Award" from Sree Chithira Thirunal Trust, "MP Birla Memorial Award 2009", "Bhu Ratna Award", "Mohamed Abdu Rahiman Sahib National Award", "AV Rama Rao Technology Award", "Chanakya Award" etc., He has also received Gold Medal from the Prime Minister at the 94th Indian Science Congress at Chidambaram in 2007. He received M M Chugani award for 2006, conferred by Indian Physics Association at IIT Mumbai during March 2008. He was also conferred with "Raja Rammohan Puraskar" award on the 236th birth anniversary of Raja Rammohan Roy at Kolkata during May 2008.. Dr. Nair was conferred with Rajiv Gandhi Outstanding Leadership National Award for the Year-2009 by the Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India (AGRASRI), Tirupati, by Dr. Agarala Easwara Reddi, Former Speaker of AP Legislative Assembly on 20 August 2009 at Tirupati. Dr. G. Madhavan Nair delivered the 8th Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Lecture on 20 August 2009 at Tirupati, held under the aegis of AGRASRI, Tirupati.

The Government of India awarded Nair the Padma Bhushan in 1998 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2009.

Nair has received numerous honorary degrees, including:

D.Philosophy: Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar (2003). D.Sc.: Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati (2004), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (2004), Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur (2005), Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi (2005), Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur (2005), Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi (2006), Rajiv Gandhi Technical University, Bhopal (2007), University of Kerala, Kerala (2007), SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai (2008), Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur (2009), Karnatak University, Dharwad (2009), Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (2009), Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (2009) Honorary Doctorate by Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur (2014) Honorary Doctorate by Amity University, Gurgaon 2015

Fellowships/Memberships Fellow, Indian National Academy of Engineering. Fellow, Astronautical Society of India. Fellow, National Academy of Sciences, India. Honorary Fellow, Indian Society for Non-Destruction Testing (ISNT). Member, System Society of India. Member, Working Committee of the Current Science Association 2004-06. Member, International Academy of Astronautics (2004). Senior Associate, National Institute of Advanced Studies (2004–2007). President, Intersputnik Board (2005) Honorary Fellow of The Aeronautical Society of India (2007). Honorary Life fellow Institution of Engineers (India) Kolkata (2008) Chairman, Research Council of National Aerospace Laboratories (April 2007 to March 2010). President of the International Academy of Astronautics (2009)

Publications In August 2017, Nair's autobiography, titled Agnipareekshakal, was published. English translation of autobiography, titled “Rocketing through the skies : An eventful life at ISRO” was published in August 2023.