Saraswat

Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat is a highly esteemed scientist and Member of NITI Aayog, renowned for his extensive experience in defense research encompassing both fundamental and applied sciences. Having served as the Secretary of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), he has made remarkable contributions to the indigenous development of missiles like Prithvi, Dhanush, Prahar and Agni-5 as well as the two-tiered Ballistic Missile Defence system. Dr. Saraswat played a pivotal role in establishing infrastructure to support the Nuclear Doctrine, developing cyber security technologies, and enhancing the nation’s defense capabilities against ballistic missile threats.

Furthermore, he has been actively involved in the development of alternative energy systems, such as clean coal technologies, concentrated solar power systems and bioenergy, hydrogen based economies. He has been pursuing major initiatives in the Sustainable and Resilient transportation system viz. E-vehicles, FCV, Hybrid Vehicles and Hydrogen powered long haul transport system.

Dr. Saraswat has also made significant contributions to the advancement of technology, including the development of silicon photonics, the configuration of the M-Processor for ICT applications and the roadmap for the Indian Railway Research Institute.

As a Member of NITI Aayog, Dr. Saraswat has initiated the “Methanol Economy” program, aiming to utilize methanol for transportation, energy generation and chemical production. Additionally, he has chaired committees on technical textiles and body armor, contributing to the futuristic growth of these sectors in India. Dr. Saraswat’s outstanding achievements have been recognized through numerous awards, including the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, as well as honorary doctorates from over 27 universities.

Distinguished Professor at IIT (Hyderabad) & IIT (Roorkee).  Recently, he was elected as a Fellow of “Indian National Academy of Sciences”. Awarded Fellow of Eminence by World Academy of Higher Education and Development W-Ahead on World Teachers Day-2024. Dr. Saraswat has worked in the basic and applied sciences for over 40 years and has made significant contributions to the development of Indigenous Missiles.