G. Madhavan Nair

G. Madhavan Nair (Malayalam: ജി. മാധവന്‍ നായര്‍; born October 31, 1943) is the former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation and Secretary to the Department of Space, Government of India since September 2003 and was also the Chairman, Space Commission. He was succeeded by K. Radhakrishnan. He was also the Chairman of Governing Body of the Antrix Corporation, Bangalore. Madhavan Nair was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour, on January 26, 2009. He also served as the Chairman, Board of Governors, Indian Institute of Technology Patna until he stepped down voluntarily due to his alleged involvement in Antrix-Devas deal.

Nair was born at Kulashekharam, Kanyakumari, India in a Middle Class Nair Family. He graduated with a B.Sc. in Engineering (1966) from College of Engineering, Trivandrum, 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.

Nair is a leading technologist in the field of rocket systems and has made significant contribution to the development of multi-stage satellite launch vehicles, achieving self-reliance in independent access to space using indigenous technologies. Nair and his team have advanced their work in the face of several challenges in the regime of technology denials by adopting several innovations and novel techniques to realise world class launch vehicle systems. India today has a pride of place amongst the space-faring nations in launch vehicle technology. Specifically, as Project Director, he led the development of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) which has since become the workhorse for launching mainly Indian remote sensing satellites.

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:

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.

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

The contract signed between Antrix Corporation and Devas Multimedia Private Limited on January 28, 2005 during his tenure as chairman of ISRO and secretary of Department of Space, created a lot of controversy in India. Following the controversy on January 25, 2012 he was barred from holding any government jobs, which government took for review recently.

Apart from being the Chairman, ISRO and Chairman, Space Commission, Mr. Nair is active in his contribution towards promotion of the space science and technology for the socio-economic benefit of India, he is also the Chairman of the Governing Body of the Antrix Corporation, Bangalore. He served National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad as the Chairman of Governing Body till it became National Remote Sensing Center.

Taking into account his vast experience he had held many positions in ISRO. The notable ones include the president of Astronautical Society of India (ASI) in 2004, the president of Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI) in 2005 and currently the Vice-President of Scientific Activities Committee of IAA, since 2006. In August 2009, he was elected president of the International Academy of Astronautics. He is the only Indian and the first non-American to IAA. Nair will be the IAA president till 2015.

Mr. Nair is the General President of 97th Indian Science Congress 2009-2010. Dr. Nair was first Chairman of the Board of Governors, Indian Institute of Technology Patna.

Mr.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.

The Government of India conferred Madhavan Nair the highly coveted awards Padma Bhushan in 1998 and Padma Vibhushan in 2009 in recognition of his services to the country and society.

• D.Philosophy (Honoris Causa) conferred by Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar (2003).
• D.Sc. (Honoris Causa) conferred by Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati (2004).
• Honoris Causa Doctor of Science conferred by Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (2004)
• Honoris Causa Degree of Doctor of Science Award by Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur (2005)
• D.Sc. from Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi (2005)
• D.Sc. from Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur (2005).
• D.Sc. from Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi (2006)
• Honoris Causa from University of Mysore ( 2006)
• Honoris Causa from GJ University, Hissar (2006)
• Honoria Causa Degree of D.Sc. conferred at the 4th Convocation of Rajiv Gandhi Technical University, Bhopal (2007).
• Honorary Degree of D.Sc. of the University of Kerala, Kerala (2007).
• Honorary Doctorate in Science conferred by SRM University, Chennai (2008)
• Honorary Doctorate in Science conferred by Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur (2009)
• Honorary Doctorate in Science conferred by Karnatak University, Dharwad (2009)
• Honorary Doctorate in Science (Honoris Causa) conferred by Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (2009)
• Honorary Doctorate in Science (Honoris Causa) conferred by Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (2009)
• Honorary Doctorate by Amity University, Gurgaon 2015

• "Satyarthi's '3D' model: Dream, discover, do". Times of India. Retrieved 3 October 2015. 

• 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)