Dr. S. Somanath

Dr. S. Somanath is an eminent aerospace engineer and visionary leader, currently serving as the Chancellor of Chanakya University. He brings to this role nearly four decades of pioneering contributions to India’s space programme, marked by deep technical mastery and strategic leadership.

As the 10th Chairman of ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space (2022–2025), Dr. Somanath led India through a historic phase of achievement, including the successful Chandrayaan‑3 soft landing near the Moon’s south pole, making India the first nation to do so. Under his stewardship, major missions such as Aditya‑L1, XPoSat, INSAT‑3DS, and advances in launch systems including SSLV and reusable launch vehicle experiments were realized. He played a critical role in shaping Gaganyaan, India’s human spaceflight mission, and in formulating the National Space Policy and Space Vision 2047.

A Fellow of leading scientific academies in India and abroad, Dr. Somanath has published extensively and represented India at major global space forums. As Chancellor, he envisions Chanakya University as a hub of scientific excellence, indigenous innovation, and value‑driven leadership.